ADAM Murray insists Kidderminster Harriers will approach the end-of-season play-offs as ‘cup football’ following a final day victory against South Shields.
Harriers ended the away side’s title hopes with a 1-0 victory at Aggborough as Ryley Reynolds scored the only goal of the game.
Opponents South Shields needed to win the game to stand any chance of clinching the title as AFC Fylde secured promotion as champions with victory at Merthyr Town.
However, Harriers claimed a sixth successive victory to end the National League North season in third place.
And Murray praised his side’s performance levels despite little riding on the game for Harriers with the club’s place in the final table confirmed before kick-off.
Murray said: “With the dynamics of the game, it was a real mentality one.
“It was a case of making sure we wanted to keep momentum, we wanted to keep the energy and the focus going.
“I think it’s really hard to take your foot off the gas and then put it back on again. I don’t think that’s the way you win.
“The boys were outstanding against a top team, an incredible outfit even though they’ve not won the league.
“It’s another really good victory. It’s all about performance levels and again it was a top performance from the players.”
Kidderminster will play the winners of the play-off eliminator tie between Macclesfield and Chester at Aggborough this weekend.
And Murray admits Harriers will head into the play-offs full of confidence following a strong end to the campaign.
Murray added: “We wanted to create an elite mentality and that takes time, you have to create a culture.
“We’re nowhere near where I think the football club can be. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get it where I think this can go.
“When you get to this stage of the season, it doesn’t matter who you play. It’s cup football now.
“We’ll approach it like that but we’re going into it [the play-offs] confident but humble because we know this league can bite you on the backside as quickly as it pats you on the back.”
Goalkeeper Christian Dibble also returned to Kidderminster’s starting line-up following an eight-game absence as he recovered from a concussion injury.
Murray said: “He brings an aura to the team, he brings a calmness.
“He makes big saves when you have to make big saves and he’s made a career of it.
“I think he’s got the most clean sheets in the league again and that’s a joke, that’s the fourth year he’s done it.
“It was just good to see him back out there after his injury and to see him be brave diving at people’s feet.”
Kidderminster play either Macclesfield or Chester on Saturday, May 2 with kick-off at 12.30pm.
