Boro 2 Kidderminster Harriers 0 Boro bounced back from their midweek humbling by Ebbsfleet by seeing off Kidderminster thanks to goals from Jon Ashton and Mitchell Cole. Boro took some time to get going but once Ashton headed home Ronnie Henry s free-ki

Boro 2 Kidderminster Harriers 0

Boro bounced back from their midweek humbling by Ebbsfleet by seeing off Kidderminster thanks to goals from Jon Ashton and Mitchell Cole.

Boro took some time to get going but once Ashton headed home Ronnie Henry's free-kick in the 37th minute there was only going to be one winner.

Cole's excellent finish early in the second half put the result beyond any doubt as the winger finally hit the form Boro fans have been aching to see this season.

Kidderminster had their chances, most notably through Damian Stewart, but Graham Westley's side thoroughly deserved the three points that got their drive for promotion back on track.

Boro had to do without three regular first teamers as Mark Roberts and Yemi Odubade missed out through injury while Michael Bostwick was suspended.

Mark Albrighton, Jon Ashton and Mitchell Cole all came in but the enforced changes appeared to unsettle Boro in the opening stages as Kidderminster took control.

The visitors almost took the lead as early as the second minute when Spencer was afforded far too much time on the edge of the area and his left-footed strike whistled just wide of the post with Chris Day rooted to the spot.

Kidderminster came even closer three minutes later when the lively David McDermott let fly from 25 yards but, fortunately for Boro, his shot clipped the crossbar and went over.

Boro were being outnumbered in the midfielder and the likes of Darren Murphy and David Bridges were finding it tough going in the middle of the park.

Kidderminster continued to carve out chances and only an excellent stop from Day stopped Spencer's header finding the bottom corner in the 20th minute.

Boro finally manufactured an opportunity of their own midway through the half when Andy Drury's in-swinging free-kick was glanced on to the post by Charlie Griffin but Boro appeared to grow in confidence from this point on.

Kidderminster started to drop a bit deeper and Boro were able to exercise a bit of pressure of their own culminating in them taking the lead from an unlikely source.

Henry's sand wedge of a free kick into the Kiddy penalty area was met by Ashton, who cleverly glanced the ball into the top corner. The big defender had looked assured at the back but manager Westley will be delighted to see another of his defenders get on the scoresheet.

Boro should have doubled their lead in injury time at the end of the first half from another set-piece. Griffin met Drury's cross from the right but his header from six yards was straight at Kiddy goalkeeper Dean Coleman and they managed to clear the danger.

But Stevenage had to wait less than a minute into the second half to make it 2-0 thanks to a superb finish from Cole.

Bridges won a towering header to send the winger through on goal and the former Grays man rifled home the bouncing ball giving Coleman no chance.

Westley was calling for his side to keep their composure on the sidelines just as they hadn't against Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night after they had taken the lead.

Kiddy almost found a route back into the contest when Daniel Andrew's wicked corner was bound for the back of the net until Day brilliantly clawed the ball away.

Substitute Aaron Farrell also had a decent chance to bring his side back into the game when was played through on goal but his left-footed effort from the edge of the box went just wide.

Boro (4-4-2): Day 7, Henry 7, Ashton 8, Albrighton 7, Laird 7, Drury 7, Bridges 7 (Byrom 82), Murphy 6, Cole 7 (Odhiambo 75), Beardsley 8 (Vincenti 85), Griffin 6. Subs not used: Bayes, Boylan.

Kidderminster (4-5-1): Coleman 6, Courtney 6 (Knights 86), Caines 6, Riley 6, McPhee 6, Bennett 7, McDermott 7 (Charles 59), Smikle 6, Matthews 6 (Farrell 69, 6), Andrew 6, Spencer 6. Subs not used: Baker, Hayward.

Referee: B Malone

Attendance: 1,804