SCUNTHORPE 1 HARRIERS 1

IT was yet another case of two points dropped for Kidderminster Harriers in their latest Division Three draw at Scunthorpe.

But there was little anyone could do about Scott Brough's brilliant 70th minute equaliser that flew into the top corner of Stuart Brock's net from 25 yards.

Harriers had seemed set for their first away win of the season with another impressive effort on their travels.

Though unlike Bournemouth and Leyton Orient, they did not put up a defensive wall as such.

Boss Ian Britton deployed a 3-5-2 formation that Harriers looked comfortable with, defending well and passing the ball around slickly.

Scunthorpe were not short of shots on goal but that masks the fact Harriers really forced home keeper Tom Evans to earn his wage.

However, the cold statistics revealed Harriers had drawn six of their eight league matches after this match.

In four, Lincoln, Darlington, Boston and now Scunthorpe, plus perhaps even Bournemouth, they could and should have taken three points.

On Saturday, Wolves youngsters John Melligan and Mark Clyde both looked more than capable on their debuts.

Harriers held off the early threat from the home side as Brock was well positioned to easily save from Alex Calvo-Garcia twice and big target-man Steve Torpey.

Sam Shilton shot wide from 15 yards for Britton's men who were aided by an injury forcing off Scunthorpe's key left-back Andy Dawson.

The visitors began to exert more authority and had a prime chance to take the lead on36 minutes.

Bo Henriksen beat the offside trap and his intelligent pass across goal seemed to provide a routine finish.

But it fell to defender Craig Hinton, shifted successfully to right wing-back, who snatched at his strike and hit the outside of the post.

Henriksen was away again on 39 minutes after Clyde's long pass but could not break free of his markers and fired straight at Evans from long distance.

However, Harriers' endeavour was rewarded when Hinton's excellent cross was missed by the Scunthorpe centre-backs and Shilton slid the ball home from close range.

It was Kidderminster's first goal at Glanford Park and an opening league strike for the club from the left wing-back.

The match could have been over on 58 minutes but a breath-taking stop from Evans denied Clyde who had rocketed Shilton's corner towards the top corner.

But Scunthorpe showed strong spirit to force their way back into the game.

Top scorer Martin Carruthers twice fired off target from inside the box, while Wayne Graves' header was trapped between the legs of grateful keeper Brock.

But there was nothing Harriers' custodian could do about Brough's splendid leveller after Stephen Wright's corner had only been half-cleared.

Both sides fired narrowly over in the closing stages through Scunthorpe's Calvo-Garcia and Harriers' sub Ian Foster.

SCUNTHORPE: Evans; Wright, McCombe, Jackson, Dawson (Ridley 23); Brough, Calvo-Garcia, Graves, Beagrie (Parton 50); Torpey, Carruthers. Subs: Barwick, Collins, Ryan.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Clyde 8, Ayres 8, Stamps 7; Hinton 7, Melligan 8, WILLIAMS 9, Flynn 7, Shilton 7; Broughton 7, Henriksen 7 (Foster 76). Subs: Danby, Ducros, Joy, Doyle.

ATTENDANCE: 2,676.

SHOTS ON: Scunthorpe 7, Harriers 6.

SHOTS OFF: Scunthorpe 10, Harriers 6.

CORNERS: Scunthorpe 12, Harriers 5.

GOALS: Shilton 45, Brough 70.

YELLOW CARDS: Scunthorpe 1 (McCombe), Harriers 2 (Hinton, Williams).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. A consistent performer at the heart of the Harriers midfield. Williams rarely allowed Scunthorpe any time to settle with another tireless display. Rarely wasted the ball when in possession either.