HARRIERS boss Mark Yates has challenged his players to reproduce the "benchmark performance" they showed against Chester.

Reds beat the fellow play-off hopefuls 4-1 at Aggborough last Saturday as Yates started his second reign with an impressive victory.

Goals from Declan Weeks, Joe Ironside, Ryan Johnson and Ed Williams saw ninth-placed Kidderminster move two points behind seventh-placed Altrincham.

Yates is targeting a similar showing when his side welcome York this Saturday (3pm kick-off).

He said: "It was a really pleasing start but we really are just taking it one game at a time.

"It's just a start and something we need to reproduce. The game against Chester has to be our benchmark performance now and we need to work on producing that every Saturday and Tuesday or whenever we play.

"We were really good in and out of possession and it's just about trying to fine tune a few things.

"Elliot Turner, our sport scientist, has done some good work and it's about harnessing those fitness levels within the group and that, added to our ability, should be key to success.

"The players have shown a willingness and work-rate and now need to carry that forward."

The returning manager also underlined the role Harriers' fans can play as they look to end the season with a late rattle.

"The fans were great last week and if they can just keep encouraging us there should be a lot more to come from the group. Hopefully we can all do it together," he added.

"No one means to miss place a pass or a cross or miss the target and hopefully the fans can recognise that.

"York is another big game against another big club that shouldn't be where it is. If we can approach the game the same way we did against Chester then hopefully we'll give the fans something else to cheer."

Among a host of eye-catching performances for Harriers last weekend was midfield prospect Milan Butterfield.

The club have now moved quickly to sign the academy graduate on a contract.

Yates said: "I've only known him for two-and-a-half weeks and we were going into the unknown a little bit on Saturday. But I was pleased with what I'd seen in training and he did really well.

"We've done some good work with him already in terms of game understanding and if he can continue to work hard he has the potential to go far. Getting him on a contract is really good for the club."

Meanwhile, James Baxendale has left Harriers after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

The former Walsall midfielder signed for the Reds in the summer but had made just a handful of starts. He follows the recent departures of full-back Lee Vaughan last week.

Defender Josh Heaton and midfielder Billy Daniels should return from injury to boost Yates' options against York. Kane Richards is also back from suspension.

However, the game may come too soon for Russ Penn and Jimmy O'Connor, who have both been assisting Yates on the training pitch since his return.