Saturday, August 27, 2005

WAYNE Hatswell struck six minutes from time to earn Harriers a point against Southport on Saturday.

Hatswell headed home a corner to give Harriers a 1-1 draw after trailing to the visitors for most of the second half.

Gareth Sheldon had a free kick punched away by goalkeeper Steve Dickinson early on.

But it was Harriers keeper John Danby who was in trouble after 23 minutes and he needed two attempts to keep out Steve Daly's driven effort.

Danby then pulled off a fine save from Carl Baker, after the Southport player had driven into the box unchallenged by the Kidderminster defence.

Simon Russell and Terry Fleming then exchanged passes before the former had his shot kept out by Dickinson.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on the stroke of half-time.

Daly picked up a through ball and slotted home, despite the appeals for offside from the Kidderminster defenders.

Sheldon went close with another free kick just after the interval but Harriers should have been level just short of the hour mark.

Iseyden Christie, who recovered from a foot infection to take his place in the starting line-up, was hauled down in the box by Earl Davies.

Sheldon's effort from the spot was kept out superbly by goalkeeper Dickinson.

Christie than had a chance to equalise himself but his effort was hooked off the goal-line.

But, from the corner, Hatswell finally got the goal Harriers had been striving for.

He almost added a second in injury time when he got on the end of another corner but, this time, the Southport defence managed to get the ball off the line.

The result leaves Harriers in 15th place in the Conference.

Harriers: Danby, Hatswell, Burgess, Jackson, Evans, Wilson (Heslop 61), O'Connor, Fleming, Sheldon, (Atieno 66), Russell, Christie. Subs not used: Lewis, Burton, Thompson.

Referee: R Shoebridge.

Attendance: 1,753.

Kidderminster's next game is a home Conference clash with Canvey Island on Friday night (7.45).