Mark Yates has taken Kidderminster Harriers to new heights

Kidderminster Harriers manager Mark Yates has put his high-riding team's rise to second in the Conference table down to an early season heart-to-heart.

Since the mid-August 4-2 defeat at Mansfield, Yates' men have won seven out of their last nine games, the last four of them on the spin.

"We started the season poorly," he said. "But, after Mansfield, the players suddenly had a reality check.

"They realised what could be achieved with this group of players."

Yates was full of praise for his team after Saturday's 3-2 win at Eastbourne, which lifted the Harriers to second in the table, three points behind early leaders Crawley.

It is their highest position since being relegated back to the Conference in 2005, fuelled by 23 goals in 12 games. But Yates still wants a better return in front of goal.

"You won't see better goals than the two we scored in the first half," Yates told BBC Hereford and Worcester. "But we could have scored more in the second half, and it might cost us on another day."

After taking a 2-0 interval lead through Justin Richards and Brian Smikle, midfielder Andy Ferrell's 62nd minute strike appeared to have made the scoreline safe.

But two home goals in 10 minutes from Paul Armstrong and Matt Crabb gave Yates' men an uncomfortable last 20 minutes.