TORQUAY 2 HARRIERS 2

EVERY young professional must dream of making the kind of Football League debut produced by Kidderminster Harriers super sub Andrew Bishop on Tuesday.

With Harriers trailing 2-0 at fellow high-fliers Torquay United and staring their fourth Division Three defeat in the face, enter the 20-year-old loan signing from Walsall on 54 minutes.

Bishop got to work within just six minutes as his 30-yard shot was spilled by rookie reserve keeper Jamie Attwell for Bo Henriksen to force home from a few yards out.

And, with Harriers inspired to put Torquay under more pressure in driving rain, Bishop rose at the far post in front of his marker to power home a downward headed equaliser on 72 minutes from Adie Smith's cross.

Harriers had fought back to level for the second match running, claiming their ninth draw of the season in all competitions and against a team who had scored 10 goals in winning their last fixtures.

Boss Ian Britton, though he must be worried by leaking eight goals in the last four games, should be delighted at the character shown by his men who were sometimes found wanting last season.

Their never-say-die attitude keeps them in the play-off zone despite the tight nature of the league table.

On Tuesday, Harriers had chances in the first half to take the lead but found themselves trailing against the run of play on 25 minutes.

Former Aggborough trialist Alex Russell ran on to a defence-splitting pass from top scorer David Graham and his final effort took a deflection off defender Lee Ayres to wrong-foot Stuart Brock.

The Harriers keeper was also unlucky with Torquay's second nine minutes later when he did well to take the sting out of Graham's thumping half-volley only for Martin Gritton to follow up for an easy far-post tap-in.

Earlier, Danish striker Henriksen had been denied by a diving Arjan Van Heusden save on 17 minutes, while Sam Shilton was only halted by last-ditch blocks from Tony Bedeau and Reuben Hazell.

The visitors had forced the early pace at Plainmoor, unlike previous lack-lustre first-half displays, and were not about to be downhearted by Torquay's quick double strike.

They were given a boost at half-time when home keeper Van Heusden left the action with an injury to be replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur trainee Attwell.

The result was goals for Henriksen and new boy Bishop but Torquay, who climbed into the top three, showed why they are having such a good start to the season by threatening on the break.

Bedeau saw an 80th-minute finish ruled out for offside, while Gritton headed marginally over near the end and Jason Fowler's drive was pushed aside by the agile Brock.

Harriers' eye-catching away form continues to amaze with just the one Division Three defeat on their travels, suffered at Rushden and Diamonds who they must tackle again on Tuesday in the FA Cup.

Britton's men ensured they remain unbeaten in evening league fixtures and they could potentially return to the top three with victory over Oxford United on Saturday.

TORQUAY: Van Heusden (Attwell 46); Hockley, Hazell, Canoville (Dunning 51), Woozley; Bedeau, Fowler, Russell, Hill; Gritton, Graham. Subs: Kuffour, Douglin, Bond.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Coleman 6 (Bishop 54, 9), Ayres 6, Hinton 7; Smith 7, Bennett 6, Williams 7, Flynn 7, Shilton 6; Broughton 6 (Foster 71, 6), Henriksen 8 (Joy 85). Subs: Danby, Sall.

ATTENDANCE: 2,629.

SHOTS ON: Torquay 6, Harriers 6.

SHOTS OFF: Torquay 6, Harriers 9.

CORNERS: Torquay 7, Harriers 8.

GOALS: Russell 25, Gritton 34, Henriksen 60, Bishop 72.

YELLOW CARDS: None.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Andy Bishop. What an impact from the new loan signing on his Football League debut! His shot was spilled for the first goal and he put away his equalising header brilliantly after coming on as substitute.