Rushden & D 2-1 Kidderminster

In-form midfield man Lee Tomlin scored twice as Rushden & Diamonds saw off managerless Kidderminster Harriers at Nene Park.

Both keepers were tested early on but it was Tomlin who struck first on 15 minutes, firing low past Dean Coleman.

Tomlin then found the net again midway through the second-half, spectacularly volleying in an Aaron O'Connor cross.

A 20-yard strike from Robbie Matthews gave Kidderminster a lifeline, but Rushden held on for a deserved victory.

The result means Diamonds move into eighth spot, four points off the promotion places.

Harriers, who lost manager Mark Yates to Cheltenham last week, drop to ninth place.

Rushden manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Northampton:

"Lee Tomlin's second goal was something special.

"After that I think he was trying to do too much, trying to do things he watches on television or something.

"But he's got talent. That's 11 goals from midfield.

"And we know what's coming round the corner. January comes and the inevitable will happen I expect. But he deserves all the credit."

Harriers caretaker boss John Finnigan told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"If we had come and taken a point with a 1-1 and avoided the first-half performance then we would have been quite happy.

"The only credit I can give to the players is that we have thrown it at them in the second-half and had a right good go.

"No-one dropped their heads and they kept going so that is one of the positives we can take."

Rushden & D'monds: Roberts, Osano, Stuart, Downer, Robinson, Porter (Wolleaston 55), Terry, Byrne, Tomlin (Louis 83), Farrell, O'Connor.
Subs Not Used: Day, Akurang, McNamara.

Booked: Tomlin, Terry.

Goals: Tomlin 15, 57.

Kidderminster: Coleman, Courtney, Caines, Riley, Andrew, Bennett, McPhee, Smikle, Knights, Matthews, Farrell (Spencer 46).
Subs Not Used: Singh, Baker, Dolman, Hayward.

Goals: Matthews 68.

Att: 1,425.

Ref: J Adcock (England).