HARRIERS 0 RUSHDEN 0

Mat Kendrick reports from Aggborough

IS the Harriers glass half full or half empty? That is the question which is dividing Aggborough after the big decider that decided absolutely nothing on Saturday.

Harriers optimists can point to the five-match unbeaten run as proof that the team have found form at just the right time.

But the pessimists are aware that the games are ticking away and Kidderminster can't afford to waste any more opportunities like this to close the gap on their relegation rivals.

In truth, the Harriers glass is undeniably full of spirit, but with just eight matches to go, they really are drinking in the last chance saloon.

After being billed variously as the "biggest game in the club's history" and the weekend's "most important match on the football calendar", the survival showdown was something of an anti-climax.

Given the fact that Harriers and Rushden are both scrapping for their lives, the old foes were never going to serve up ole football for Aggborough's biggest crowd of the season.

Subsequently, 91st v 90th was exactly what we got as two teams anxious to avoid making fatal mistakes cancelled each other out over a nerve-filled 90 minutes.

In fairness to Harriers and their visitors, neither sat behind the ball and shut up shop, but neither showed sufficient confidence to go out and win it either.

Rushden were first out of the blocks and had Billy Sharp been a bit sharper and not dragged two great chances wide within the first 10 minutes they could have been comfortably in control.

Instead Harriers grew in stature and fashioned a couple of decent opportunities of their own as the action tooed and froed.

Captain Wayne Hatswell drew a smart save from Scott Shearer with a 25-yard grasscutter before Blair Sturrock came close to latching onto a long punt forward by John Danby.

Sharp was continuing to be a thorn in Harriers side and it took a fine tip around by Danby to deny the Diamonds dangerman midway through the first half.

And other than a passage of play that saw Harriers swing some inviting balls into the box, only for Johnny Mullins and Hatswell to respectively head wide and straight at the keeper, that was the sum of the first half action.

Once again it was nip and tuck after the break with both sides failing to convert the openings that came their way.

Lee Jenkins, who produced a steady display in place of the suspended Tom Bennett, was guilty of spurning the best chance of the game on 50 minutes. An intricate exchange of passes with Chris Beardsley on the edge of the box saw the Welshman go through one-on-one with the keeper and although Shearer produced a super save, Jenkins should really have scored. Sturrock was next to try his luck with a volley from Hatswell's left wing ball, but rather than making clean contact with his shot, the striker scuffed it into the ground.

Rushden responded by launching the odd counter attack with Alex Hay their main threat, forcing two full stretch saves from Danby and whacking another effort off target.

With Stuart Watkiss involved in a touchline battle of wits with Rushden boss Barry Hunter, the Aggborough manager was easily the most adventurous, throwing on Mark Rawle, Simon Russell and Iyseden Christie in a brave attempt to snatch three points.

It almost paid dividends with Rawle directing a point blank header straight at Shearer, Christie unsettling the Diamonds defence and Russell going close on two occasions.

His first attempt was a fierce strike which Shearer scarambled away, while the former Hull youngster smashed the last chance of the game into the side netting after Bertran Cozic flicked on a ball from Rawle. Ultimately, it's as you were at Aggborough and despite all the pre-match hype, it was always going to be a can't lose rather than a must win match.

HARRIERS: Danby 7, Weaver 6, HATSWELL 8, Mullins 7, Jackson 7, Cozic 7, McGrath 7, Keates 7, Jenkins 6 (Russell 61, 7), Sturrock 6 (Rawle 65, 6), Beardsley 6 (Christie 77, 6). Subs not used: Lewis, Jones.

RUSHDEN: Shearer, Connelly, Gier, Hay, Gray, Burgess, Dove (Kelly 81), McCafferty, Williams, Sharp (Littlejohn 90), Broughton. Subs not used: Dempster, Worgan, Gulliver.

REFEREE: Steve Dunn (Bristol)

ATTENDANCE: 3,860.