HARRIERS 1 LEICESTER 1

IT WAS particularly fitting winger Sam Shilton should swoop for the equaliser against the club his father Peter served so well.

During the 1970s, England international Shilton senior achieved legendary status at Leicester City who secured promotion to the Premiership last season.

While his son's career has not hit as many heights, the Kidderminster Harriers player still produced a top-class finish in the 76th minute of Monday's pre-season friendly.

Harriers fully deserved a share of the spoils in the first game played in front of the atmospheric new east stand which had its fair share of home and away fans.

With the trialists again going full out to impress, Ian Britton's regulars also played their part against a Leicester squad containing seven full internationals.

The result was an entertaining friendly with chances for both sides and plenty of good football.

Harriers, with three victories over non-league opposition to their credit, had the advantage of being Leicester's first friendly opponents.

And it showed as the under-dogs' fitness was never in doubt against players who will test themselves against some of the world's best this season.

Britton will have been buoyed by promising displays from the likes of Kenny Coleman, Narada, John Williams, Adam Willis and Graham Ward who are all chasing contracts.

The home side were given regular warnings of Leicester's class starting from the fifth minute when James Scowcroft juggled the ball well in the area but fired wide.

But the bustling Williams shrugged former Chelsea man Frank Sinclair off the ball a minute later and forced keeper Danny Coyne into parrying his fierce near-post drive.

The man once dubbed the "flying postman" then headed a fine Coleman cross back for Narada who was crowded out by defenders.

But Harriers were lucky to escape on 24 minutes when Jordan Stewart's spectacular overhead kick beat Stuart Brock only to crash back off the crossbar.

Stewart also shot inches over from the edge of the area before half-time, while Williams' deflected shot from a low Narada cross was well handled by Coyne.

The Division Three side did extremely well in the first period but there was a quick shock waiting for them within a minute of the interval from two of Leicester's substitutes.

Northern Ireland cap Keith Gillespie whipped over an precise cross from the right and Brian Deane, with three England caps to his name, guided his header past Brock.

But the opening goal spurred on Harriers who enjoyed an excellent spell that could so easily have produced an equaliser.

Willis leapt well to win a header from Danny Williams's corner with the ball falling for J Williams to acrobatically hook wide at the far post on 49 minutes.

Soon after, D Williams fed Matt Lewis inside the left channel and the teenager's precise cross was flicked onto the post by the energetic Narada who seemed to be everywhere.

J Williams, looking like the pacey powerful front man Harriers need, appeared desperate to put a nightmare season at struggling Swansea behind him.

He swapped passes with Narada on 54 minutes and let fly with a stinging bullet of a shot that Wales international Coyne tipped over.

Harriers had to wait to threaten again after the exit of J Williams who conceded defeat on the hour in his bid to run off an ankle knock.

But when they next attacked with purpose, fans were reminded of the class of 2002/03 top scorer Bo Henriksen.

The Dane had barely touched the ball when fellow sub Ward released him down the right and a dangerous cut-back was rammed into the roof of the net by Shilton.

It was a finish that would have given his father Peter little chance, even in his heyday of more than 100 England caps.

Kyle Lightbourne, bidding to add to his opening goal on Saturday, had a great chance to put Harriers ahead but crashed the ball wide after Coleman's cross created havoc.

And Brock was left to show why he has kept the Harriers goalkeeper jersey in the late stages.

He produced a great save low down to his right to foil another Deane header and then combined with the post to keep out Leon McSweeney's effort.

HARRIERS: Brock; Hinton (Smith 73), Willis, Stamps; Coleman, Bennett (Ward 64), D Williams, Flynn (Parrish 73), Narada (Shilton 66); J Williams (Lightbourne 60), Lewis (Henriksen 73). Subs not used: Ayres, Wilding, Heath, Danks.

LEICESTER: Coyne (Murphy 76); Sinclair (Deane 46), Heath, Elliott (Ashton 46), Impey (Lewis 76); Williamson (Gillespie 46), Scimeca (Nalis 46), Izzet (McKinlay 46), Stewart; Brooker (McSweeney 76), Scowcroft (Dickov 46).

ATTENDANCE: 2,501.