Harriers boss in challenge to Farrell

The summer signing and former Aggborough youth-team player, plucked from obscurity after a spell way down the food chain at Sutton Coldfield Town, played the first 85 minutes of Saturday's 1-0 win.

Farrell has had to wait for his chance after Robbie Matthews was signed from Salisbury as the first-choice foil for top scorer Matthew Barnes-Homer, but could be set for an extended run with the big striker still out with two games to serve through suspension.

That leaves the 23-year-old in the driving seat for Saturday's FA Cup fourth round qualifier at home to Fleetwood on Saturday, and his manager has told him to stay sharp.

Yates said: "It has been a big jump for Aaron and he is going to have games where things don't go for him. But he did quite well and, if he gets his chance this week, he has to take them when they come to him.

"He missed a couple of chances but he was there to miss them and that is all we ask, as long as he works on the other parts of his game over his time with us. Strikers create chances themselves but they have to put them away.

"But he's big, strong, fast and has the tools to be a good player for us."

Farrell made way to defender Tom Sharpe with five minutes to go as defender Gavin Caines was pushed up front for his presence, with the 6ft 1in centre-half then scoring the winner with three minutes to go.

It was a masterstroke by Yates, but the manager insists the decision was no reflection to the striker's performance.

He said: "Aaron did well, worked hard against a decent back four and caused them a lot of problems with his pace. He could have even had a couple of goals perhaps, without that luck in front of goal and a killer touch. He's done well in training, knows where the back of the net is and his pace will cause anybody problems.

"Him and 'Barnesy' linked up well - it was no reflection that he was subbed in the end. I just wanted a bit of a physical presence up there, so I put 'Cainesy' on and it was a set piece he scored from."