Kidderminster Harriers: Anthony Malbon eyes promotion clincher

Top scorer Anthony Malbon wants to score the goal that takes Kidderminster Harriers back into the Football League.

The Harriers are two points behind Blue Square Bet Premier leaders Mansfield Town going into Saturday's finale.

But, if Mansfield slip up at home to Wrexham, 17-goal Malbon wants to play his part for the Harriers against relegation-threatened Stockport.

"I want to get that goal that takes us up or wins the league. That's what I'm about," he told BBC Midlands Today.

"I said that I would take not scoring if we would get promoted, but I want to score the goal that wins the league for us."

The chance to be a final-day hero will be a massive contrast from 12 months ago when Malbon's season ended quite differently.

With his side trailing 1-0 at home to a Mansfield side who had already booked their play-off place, Harriers needed to win, and hope fifth-placed Luton lost, to book their own place in the end-of-season lottery.

But Malbon's afternoon ended abruptly following a juddering challenge from Stags striker Louis Briscoe that ended up with him being airlifted from the pitch at Aggborough and taken to hospital in Birmingham.

Harriers subsequently missed out, finishing sixth under boss Steve Burr for the second season running. And any hopes of making it third time lucky looked right out of the window when they lost their first five matches this season, then only drew the next five to sit still bottom of the Conference on 29 September.

But, since then, the transformation has been remarkable, with just five defeats in 35 games - and 21-year-old Malbon has certainly played his part.

Prior to the beginning of February, the former Port Vale youngster had failed to capture last season's form, when he scored a highly promising eight times in 17 appearances following his January arrival from Newcastle Town.

But the club record £300,000 January departure of Jamille Matt to Fleetwood and the arrival of on-loan Michael Gash from Cambridge United has had a galvanising effect on Malbon.

Scoring almost when he wants, 13 of this season's 17-goal tally have arrived in the Harriers' last 16 matches.

But he would trade them all for just one important strike at Aggborough against Stockport on Saturday.

"I knew we would be pushing for the play-offs," said Malbon. "But going into the last game where we can win the league, it's a bit mad really."