Saturday, February 4, 2006

MARK Yates hailed his 'outstanding' defence as Kidderminster Harriers earned a valuable point at promotion-chasers Halifax Town.

It may not have been the most entertaining of games at Town's Shay Stadium, but boss Yates was delighted to come away from Yorkshire with Harriers' unbeaten run intact.

The Aggborough club are now four Conference games without a defeat and looking solid as ever, despite the exit of key defender Mark Jackson to Rochdale last week.

"This is a tough place to come to and we will settle for a point," said Yates. "At half-time I thought we might kick on and win the game but they came out stronger in the second-half.

"Different aspects of our play had shone through over the last few games, but the thing that has stood out is our defensive resolution.

"We are a resilient side and we did a bit of work with the back four in training because there are a few new faces now Mark Jackson has gone, but I thought defensively we were outstanding."

Town are unbeaten in the Conference on home territory and Harriers became only the fifth side to leave the Shay with a share of the spoils.

Harriers, who handed starts to new recruits Jake Sedgemore and Andy White in place of departed duo Jackson and Iyseden Christie, stifled the home side with a battling display.

Goalmouth action was in short supply in the first-half, with the nearest Town came when Justin Bowler smashed a drive over the top from the edge of the penalty box.

Bowler had Harriers goalkeeper John Danby scrambling before the break, while at the other end, Simon Russell fired wide of the upright following a neat through-ball by Andy White.

Both sides mustered the odd half-chance following the break, but the contest sparked into life in the final 10 minutes.

Halifax looked to rob the visitors of their point when Danny Forrest, finding space inside the area, was denied by Danby's superb reactions and Craig Midgley slashed the rebound wide.

Ryan Sugden also missed a close-range effort, but the drama was not over as Harriers also opened a golden opportunity to steal it.

Debutant Paul Smith came off the bench and saw his 12-yard effort saved by Jon Kennedy, while Russ Penn's follow-up effort sailed the wrong side of the upright.

Harriers: Danby, Harkness (Howarth 83), Burgess, Fleming, Sedgemore, Mullins, Blackwood (Smith 53), Russell, Francis (Sheldon 62), Penn, White. Subs (not used): Thompson, Lewis.

Attendance: 1,544.