Tuesday, November 19, 2002

HARRIERS super sub Andy Bishop made the sort of debut every young pro dreams about as Kidderminster came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Torquay United last night.

Within six minutes of his 54th minute introduction the 20-year-old loan signing from Walsall hit a 30-yard shot that led to Harriers' opening goal.

Rookie reserve goalkeeper Jamie Attwell found the shot too hot to handle and Bo Henriksen forced the ball home from close range.

It was just the inspiration Harriers needed as they poured forward in the pouring rain to put the home defence under more pressure.

Skipper Sean Flynn let fly from distance on the wet surface and although his effort took a deflection Attwell saved.

But the home 'keeper -- on as a half time replacement for injured Arjan van Heusden -- could do nothing about Kidderminster's 72nd minute leveller.

Adie Smith crossed from the right and Bishop, at the far post, got in front of his marker to power home a header on his league debut.

Harriers had chances in the first half but found themselves trailing against the run of play after 25 minutes when Alex Russell ran on to a defence-splitting through ball from Torquay's 12-goal top scorer David Graham. Russell's shot took a deflection off Lee Ayres to wrong-foot Stuart Brock, who was also unlucky with the second Gulls goal.

The Harriers 'keeper did well to take the sting out of Graham's thumping half-volley but the ball ran kindly to Martin Gritton, who had an easy far post tap-in.

Henriksen was denied by van Heusden's save and Sam Shilton might have had two goals but for last-ditch blocks by Tony Bedeau and Reuben Hazell as Harriers forced the first-half pace at Plainmoor.

Harriers boss Ian Britton said: "I thought that we were a bit unfortunate to be 2-0 down but we started well which makes a change over the past two or three weeks and put them under pressure.

"At half-time I said to the lads we could get a result here -- we thought we could still win it even at 2-0 because of the chances we had and the way we were playing. So I honestly believed we could go on and win the game and we nearly did."

Harriers: Brock 7; Smith 7, Coleman 6 (Bishop 54, 9), Ayres 6, Hinton 7, Shilton 6; Bennett 6, Williams 7, Flynn 7; Broughton 6 (Foster 71), Henriksen 8 (Joy 85). Subs (not used): Danby, Sall.

Attendance: 2,629.