BURY 1 HARRIERS 1

THOUGH Bury's equaliser prevented Kidderminster Harriers returning to the play-off zone, Sunday's draw was yet another impressive away result.

Harriers, never the strongest on their travels before this season, were only denied a Division Three victory by Jon Newby's strike on 77 minutes.

But they can still afford to be happy with a point at one of the four teams relegated from Division Two last season.

Bury, like Bournemouth, Cambridge and Wrexham, have put together a strong promotion claim as well as beating Stoke and Bolton in the Worthington Cup.

Harriers, now three games unbeaten, were left just a point off the play-off zone in 10th position after competing well at a rain-drenched Gigg Lane which passed several pitch inspections.

The match was certainly much closer than their first meeting, a 2-0 LDV Trophy win for Bury in 2001 which saw frustrated boss of the time Jan Molby transfer list a host of players.

Fortunes have changed somewhat since then and many believe Harriers could be just an experienced defender short of a top-seven team.

As manager Ian Britton has often stated, they certainly have nothing to fear judging on the season so far.

Injuries and suspensions remain a threat though the latest, Sean Parrish with a hamstring strain, was ably covered by Danny Williams.

On Sunday, Harriers struggled to create a threat up front in a lacklustre first half with the best chance falling to loan striker Andy Bishop who headed wide from a Sam Shilton corner.

Bury rarely threatened though Chris Billy's early shot was parried by Stuart Brock who later made a straight-forward save from Newby.

The dangerous Newby beat the offside trap moments before the interval but, after rounding Brock, his effort was cleared by the well-positioned Craig Hinton, continuing his impressive form at the back.

Danish striker Bo Henriksen grabbed Harriers' opportunity to go ahead four minutes after the break by sending keeper Glyn Garner the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Henriksen had been pushed in the back by defender Steve Redmond while challenging for a Dean Bennett cross.

Sixth-in-the-table Bury could have drawn level almost immediately but top scorer Newby's shot grazed the crossbar.

But the former Liverpool player was bang on target with the equaliser following a neat build-up by Billy and teenage substitute David Nugent.

Harriers almost threw away the match when Brock's mistake let in Nugent a minute later but the grateful keeper recovered quickly to make an excellent save.

In the closing stages, Henriksen fired wide and John Melligan was denied by the home side's Garner as either side could have seized the three points on offer.

BURY: Garner; Nelson, Redmond (Nugent 59), Swailes; Unsworth, Billy, Dunfield (O'Shaughnessy 90), Clegg, Woodthorpe; Preece (Lawson 73), Newby. Subs not used: Stuart, Barrass.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Coleman 7, Ayres 6, Hinton 7; Bennett 7 (Joy 84), Melligan 7, WILLIAMS 8, Flynn 6, Shilton 7; Bishop 6, Henriksen 6. Subs not used: Danby, Foster, Doyle, Khela.

ATTENDANCE: 3,202.

SHOTS ON: Bury 6, Harriers 1.

SHOTS OFF: Bury 3, Harriers 7.

CORNERS: Bury 6, Harriers 5.

GOALS: Henriksen 49, Newby 77.

YELLOW CARDS: Bury 1 (Clegg), Harriers 0.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. Back in the side due to Sean Parrish's injury and the hard-working competitive midfielder is finding his feet again after a quiet spell.