Kidderminster Harriers 1 Lincoln City 1

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers boss Ian Britton took the blame for Drewe Broughton's late penalty miss in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Lincoln City at Aggborough.

Broughton had the chance to get Harriers' Nationwide Third Division campaign off to a flying start with a 85th minute spot kick, but his weak shot was well saved by keeper Alan Marriott.

Britton said: "Drewe scored last week but he is never going to be my first choice penalty taker. I should have sorted it out. I can't blame Drewe."

Lincoln had done their homework on Broughton after he had scored from the penalty spot in a friendly against Cheltenham Town at Aggborough seven days earlier.

Their boss Keith Alexander said: "Information was passed to us that he put his penalty the previous week to the keeper's right and so it proved again."

Britton, however, was reasonably pleased with Harriers performance, particularly in the second half when Bo Henriksen scored in the 59th minute to cancel out Richard Logan's 11th minute goal for the Imps.

He said: "It's an old cliche a game of two halves, but that's what it was. -

"The first ten minutes I thought we were nervous. They all wanted to do well and that turned into nervousness. After that we were playing into their hands.

"The first half was a non-event really for us but second half we showed a little bit more of what we are capable of and that's because we got the ball on the floor and started passing it around."

Lincoln, who had striker Dene Cropper sent off in the 83rd minute for a second bookable offence, delighted the 465 travelling fans when Paul Smith's corner was headed in by Logan despite a desperate attempt to keep the ball out of the net by Adie Smith.

A minute earlier a poor clearance by Stuart Brock went straight to Cropper but the Kidderminster keeper recovered quickly to make a vital save.

Broughton failed to make the most of a couple of first half chances while Lincoln nearly made it 2-0 two minutes into the second period when Smith broke through and was denied by a splendid save by Brock.

Scott Stamps had a fierce 30 drive tipped over by Marriott before Harriers equalised when unchallenged Henriksen scored with a glancing header following an inswinging free kick by newcomer Sean Parrish.

As well as Cropper's sending off six other players, including Kidderminster's Danny Williams and Craig Hinton, were booked.

Kidderminster: Brock 6, Sall 5, Stamps 6, Williams 6, Hinton 6, Smith 6, Bennett 5, Parrish 6, Broughton 5, Henriksen 7, Flynn 5. Subs (not used): Danby, Ducros, Doyle, Ayres, Joy. Attendance: 2,687.