Grimsby Town 1 Kidderminster Harriers 0

Amond's goal in the 66th minute settled an encounter in which Harriers did their best to thwart and frustrate a Grimsby side who had lost just once since the end of August.

Harriers head coach Dave Hockaday felt his side deserved more. He said: "Out of possession I thought we were excellent, they couldn't break us down and our defensive shape was good. I don't think either team deserved to win it or should I say neither team deserved to lose it.

"It was then down to who made the mistake and we made the mistake."

Harriers recalled Matthew Barnes-Homer to the starting line-up and the striker played a part in creating the game's first real chance, setting up James McQuilkin to deliver a right-wing cross that Ben Whitfield met with a firm header forcing keeper James McKeown to save.

In the 20th minute, Harriers keeper Dean Snedker went full length to keep out Nathan Arnold's header at the expense of a corner after Conor Townsend had created the chance following a good run down the left flank.

Chances were few and far although Dino Fazlic almost gave the visitors the lead two minutes after the break but his shot flew narrowly wide.

Gradually the Mariners imposed themselves on the game, the lively Townsend brought another save from Snedker while Amond's goalbound shot struck former Harriers defender Josh Gowling and slipped wide with Snedker stranded.

On 66 minutes the decisive goal arrived. Grimsby played the ball down the right where Richard Tait angled the ball to the edge of the Harriers box, Jordan Jones slipped allowing Craig Clay to pick out Townsend on the left edge of the area and Jones could not close down the full-back whose cross was headed powerfully home by Grimsby's leading marksman Amond.

Almost immediately the home side should have added a second, Townsend denied by Snedker who then saved from Tait.

Harriers pressed forward in spurts, substitute Gurjit Singh fired a 20-yarder that McKeown did well to hold and with 12 minutes remaining Ben Whitfield shrugged off the challenge of Aristote N'Siala only to see his effort cannon of the post and back into the arms of the home keeper.

Whitfield again looked likely to be Harriers' saviour but his shot on the turn, three minutes from time, went wide.

Grimsby: McKeown, Tait, N'Siala, Gowling, Townsend, Arnold (Pitman 87), Disley, Clay, Monkhouse, Amond (Alabi 76), Jones (Bogle 63). Subs not used: Pearson, Henderson.

Harriers: Snedker, Hodgkiss, Francis-Angol, Langmead, Howkins, Whitfield, McQuilkin, Fazlic, Maxwell (Rowe-Turner 75) Barnes-Homer (Singh 70), Murphy (Jones 64) . Subs not used: Brown,Forsyth.