HARRIERS 1, OXFORD 1

WHILE Kidderminster Harriers fans will be wondering what might have been following a rare penalty miss from Bo Henriksen, this draw against promotion hopefuls Oxford provided them with plenty of cause for optimism.

Of perhaps greater significance than the silky-skilled Dane's 12-yard faux pas was the laying to rest of a worrying spectre that has haunted Harriers since the start of the season.

Yes, it was scrappy; no, it was never going to be goal of the season - but the equaliser from captain-on-the-day Adam Willis represented a major breakthrough.

It was the first goal Harriers have scored from open play inside the penalty area this term.

While long-range rockets from Danny Williams and delicious lobs by Henriksen from outside the area look great on the end-of-season video, strikes like Willis' on Saturday are the bread and butter goals that make all the difference.

And it was gobbled up with aplomb by the summer signing from Swindon Town, capping a steady and assured performance in defence.

Even more encouragingly, Harriers - whisper it - might just be learning how to pass again.

In a surprisingly open game, decent football was in evidence from both sides and maybe Oxford's willingness to knock it about more than some recent visitors to Aggborough made life a little easier for the men in red.

While eight shots on target compared to Oxford's three tells its own story, Kidderminster matched their useful-looking opponents in midfield.

There were impressive forays from Graham Ward, drafted in for his first league start, and exciting new loan signing Adam Murray as well as the customary dominant display from Danny Williams.

Statistics aside, there was little between the teams until the introduction of Oxford substitute Mark Rawle on 69 minutes.

Harriers could have taken the lead inside the first minute when Kenny Coleman found Henriksen just outside the six-yard box on the right but the striker could only fire wide of the far post from a tight angle.

Prolific United forward Steve Basham missed a close-range chance of his own on five minutes when he fired over after one of many troublesome throw-ins from the right by full-back Scott McNiven.

Off-target long range efforts by the patchy Andy Bishop and Murray followed, while Harriers enjoyed a let-off on the stroke of half-time when a mix up between Willis and Ward saw Derek Townsley through on goal only to shoot straight at Stuart Brock.

Finding his feet, Murray stung the fingers of Oxford keeper Andy Woodman with a long range, right-footed blast following a good move down the left five minutes after the restart.

Woodman did well to hold a Murray chip on 67 minutes, shortly before the game really exploded into life.

Rawle gave Oxford a new dimension and was involved in a move which saw Matt Robinson cross from the left for Basham to head narrowly wide 14 minutes from the end.

United were on the front foot and it was no surprise when they took the lead 10 minutes from the final whistle.

However, the goal seemed to come from nowhere; a right-foot effort by Rawle from the edge of the area curling over the helpless Brock into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Initially, a deflection seemed to blame but replays appeared to show it was a perfectly-struck effort.

But less than two minutes later forward-thinking Murray played a ball to Henriksen in the area which ricocheted to lively sub John Williams.

His square pass from the left across the six-yard box was converted with glee by a sliding Willis.

Harriers fans sensed a legendary comeback when Oxford skipper Andy Crosby barged Henriksen over as he received the ball just inside the area.

There was something in the swagger as the Dane ran up and calmly slotted the ball wide of the right-hand post.

Boss Ian Britton was philosophical, despite branding Henriksen's approach "casual", but he will have been bitterly disappointed his team did not take all three points.

Woodman was largely to blames for this; in the last five minutes he tipped over a left-foot blast from Coleman and pulled off another great save from a Willis header from the resultant corner.

Then the Oxford keeper blocked well from a Henriksen shot inside the area.

It seems bread and butter is back on the menu at Aggborough.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Hinton 6, Willis 7, Stamps 6; Coleman 7, Ward 7 (Gadsby 82), D Williams 8, MURRAY 8, Parrish 6 (Shilton 70, 6); Bishop 6 (J Williams 67, 7), Henriksen 7. Subs not used: Bennett, Flynn.

OXFORD: Woodman; Ashton, Crosby, Bound; McNiven, Townsley, Wanless, Brown (Hunt 89), Robinson; Oldfield (Rawle 70), Basham. Subs not used: Hackett, Waterman, Whitehead.

ATTENDANCE: 3,262.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 8, Oxford 3.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 8, Oxford 10.

CORNERS: Harriers 3, Oxford 3.

GOALS: Rawle 80, Willis 82.

YELLOW CARDS: None.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Adam Murray. The exciting new loan signing brought a new dimension to Harriers' midfield, quickly finding his feet and adding bite as well as providing a dangerous attacking force on his debut.