ONE of the odd features of the funny old game is that a team reduced to 10 men will often become an even more difficult proposition to beat.

That was certainly the case on Tuesday night when Kidderminster Harriers deserved better than Chesterfield's 93rd minute golden goal extra-time winner.

While Harriers had looked well capable of springing a shock at Second Division Chesterfield early on, the dismissal of Ian Foster on the half-hour spurred them on even further.

In blustery Derbyshire conditions, the visitors did not give an inch to their opponents who were promoted from Division Three last season.

As assistant manager Gary Barnett stated afterwards, every one of Harriers' 10 men could be happy with their display.

Chesterfield did miss a couple of good chances but then Harriers, so shot shy at Southend on Saturday, could boast opportunities of their own.

If only they could play more like this in Division Three, but then it's apparent consistency is a major problem.

Like on Saturday, the opposition had an early sight of goal with possibly concentration again at fault.

Defender Ian Breckin got on the end of a Jamie Ingledow corner but directed the ball straight at keeper Stuart Brock.

Stefan Moore lobbed wide on five minutes with giant defender Abdou Sall just doing enough to put him off.

But young striker Moore, on loan from Aston Villa, was to blame on 20 minutes when Ingledow's free-kick found him unmarked at the far post where his weak effort gave Brock no problems.

However, an entertaining opening saw Harriers asking more than a few questions of their own.

Mark Blake scrambled a shot towards goal from Danny Williams' corner which keeper Nathan Abbey parried.

Then Dean Bennett's inviting right-wing cross was glanced towards the top corner by Larkin only for Abbey to pluck the ball out of the air confidently.

That was all inside the first quarter-of-an-hour but they should have been one-up on 23 minutes.

Larkin had earlier failed to get a good touch on a fine Stamps pass into the box but he was then guilty of a major miss.

Drewe Broughton headed back Foster's cross and the on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers striker, in plenty of space 12 yards out, hooked his shot wide of the post.

It was about the last positive action of the match for Foster who was caught up in a touch-line fracas near the Chesterfield bench.

The striker tried to kick the ball as it was being obstructed by defender Martin Booty on the ground.

However, home manager Nicky Law and his players took offence to Foster's actions and there was plenty of argy-bargy over the next few minutes.

Law had a hold of Foster at one point and when the Harriers player was dismissed for allegedly kicking Booty on the floor, he was clearly incensed with the Chesterfield boss.

Booty was also booked by referee Tony Leake who went on to add the names of Marcus Ebdon and visitors skipper Mark Blake - his seventh caution of the season - for separate incidents soon after.

The game was boiling over but Harriers again threatened the goal on 42 minutes when Blake's header from a Bennett cross was acrobatically tipped away by the extravagant Abbey.

Tempers luckily died down in the second period though home fans were frustrated with their team.

Harriers kept hassling their opponents and Chesterfield were struggling to utilise the extra space the one-man advantage offered.

If anything, the Third Division side looked more assured with Breckin forced to put the ball just past his post under pressure from Broughton on 74 minutes.

Three minutes later, Hinton's delightful pass released Larkin who crossed for Broughton but the angle was difficult for the big front-man as he nodded at Abbey.

Chesterfield should have taken the tie nine minutes from time when Moore tapped wide a sitter with only Brock to beat.

But they were to break Harriers' hearts three minutes into extra-time after substitute Steve Payne headed down Ingledow's corner for Reeves to power home from close range.

Yet the visitors should in fact take a lot of heart from this game because they were desperately unlucky not to progress.

The midfield trio of Williams, Blake and Bennett worked very well, while boss Jan Molby appears to have discovered a gem in Sall at the back.

Their commitment in a fairly minor cup tie was a joy to see and some of their passing was far more incisive than in previous games. Long may it continue.

CHESTERFIELD: Abbey; Booty, Breckin, Edwards; Ingledow, D'Auria (Williams 72), Parrish, Ebdon, Hitzlsperger (Payne 72); Moore (Jones 85), Reeves. Subs not used: Richmond, Beckett.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Clarkson 7, SALL 8, Hinton 7, Stamps 7; Bennett 7, Williams 7, Blake 7; Foster 6, Broughton 7, Larkin 6. Subs not used: Murphy, Shilton, Bird, Shail, Hadley.

ATTENDANCE: 1,904.

SHOTS ON: Chesterfield 4, Harriers 4

SHOTS OFF: Chesterfield 4, Harriers 5

CORNERS: Chesterfield 9, Harriers 2.

YELLOW CARDS: Chesterfield 2 (Booty, Ebdon), Harriers 1 (Blake).

RED CARDS: Chesterfield 0, Harriers 1 (Foster).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Abdou Sall.

Was this really only his third competitive game in English football? The Senegal-born defender has adapted brilliantly to the point where he missed very little at all against Second Division Chesterfield. That was no mean feat against the experienced David Reeves and Aston Villa youngster Stefan Moore.