Tuesday, August 15, 2006

MIDFIELDER Russ Penn opened Kidderminster Harriers' Conference points account for the season with the equaliser at Burton Albion last night.

Penn capped another impressive, competitive display in the Harriers engine room with a 12-yard strike on 57 minutes after the hosts failed to clear Jeff Kenna's cross.

Burton took the lead in first-half injury-time through Daryl Clare but Harriers showed strong character to fight back following Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to St Alban's City.

Boss Mark Yates reacted to the weekend disappointment by making several changes at the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton who had opened with a fine 1-0 win at Morecambe.

Strikers Dean Sturridge and Andy White dropped to the bench with Luke Reynolds playing a lone forward role, while Brian Smikle and Jake Sedgemore started in a five-man midfield.

Burton began brightly though with defender Gary Rowett volleying over and Andy Ducros going close with a free-kick against his old team.

Harriers began to settle as Penn made his intentions known in midfield, picking up a yellow card for fouling Ryan Austin, and winger Michael Blackwood put over several promising crosses.

But striker Clare swooped with a predatory 18-yard finish past 'keeper Scott Bevan following a long ball forward.

Harriers nearly slipped further behind just seconds into the second period but Bevan denied Shaun Harrad.

However, Gavin Cowan's powerful header was punched away by 'keeper Kevin Poole before Penn's goal, only his second for Harriers, dragged the visitors back into the game.

They worked hard to seal a handy point which leads them into Saturday's clash at Northwich Victoria.

Harriers: Bevan; Kenna (Hurren 77), Creighton, Whitehead, Cowan; Smikle, Penn, Lee, Sedgemore, Blackwood; Reynolds (White 90). Subs not used: Sturridge, Taylor, Russell.

Attendance: 1,830.