YORK 0 HARRIERS 0

AN OUTSIDE chance of promotion remains for Kidderminster Harriers but what was a good 0-0 draw at York has probably ended up costing them.

Or rather Harriers' disastrous run of one win in nine games has damaged their Division Three play-off ambitions.

Ian Britton's men now need to win their final two matches, against Hull and Bristol Rovers, and hope for at least four of the six sides they can catch to slip up badly.

But in a season where inconsistency has been the key word among the top-seven chasers there is always going to be a slight glimmer of hope for Kidderminster.

Harriers are five away from last season's points' tally of 66 which earned them 10th position.

But taken on it's own merit a point at a York side who have taken everyone by surprise this season is not a bad one.

Threatened with closure and in administration, the city club have battled on to create a strong challenge in the top 10, including a run of just one defeat in their last eight games.

However, only keeper Michael Ingham's man-of-the-match display for the home side denied Harriers all three points on Monday afternoon.

Driven on by Danny Williams, they played the better football for much of the match but the finishing did not match the approach play.

Andy Bishop's twisting run on just three minutes ended in an off-target effort but strike partner Drewe Broughton, back from a bout of flu, came closer.

The big front-man was denied by Ingham on 18 minutes after heading Dean Bennett's cross goalwards.

Giant York forward Parkin, a man even taller than Broughton, twice shot wide wastefully in the first half when he should have done much better.

Blackpool referee Mark Cowburn did not enjoy his day in Yorkshire, having to leave the field injured three minutes before half-time.

But Harriers continued to press York in his absence with Bishop's header cleared off the line by Stephen Brackstone, scorer of one of the goals in their 2-1 win at Aggborough in December.

The visitors continued to enjoy the lion's share of the possession in the second period and the outstanding Williams added shooting to his repertoire.

He was inches away with a 30-yard shot and then Ingham denied him from just outside the penalty area.

The York keeper kept one of his best saves to deny Sam Shilton on 72 minutes, plunging to his left to keep out a curling 15-yarder in a crowded goalmouth.

Harriers nearly paid for failing to take their chances when sub Keith Graydon cracked the ball against Stuart Brock's left-hand post from Lee Nogan's flick-on in the final quarter.

But Brackstone was in the right place at the right time again at the opposite end of the pitch with seven minutes to go.

The midfielder cleared Ian Foster's cross with fellow sub Inderpaul Khela ready to pounce for what could have been a dream Football League debut.

Harriers' 152 travelling fans were again left thinking: "If only".

YORK: Ingham; Hobson, Brass, Jones; Edmondson, Cooper, Nogan, Brackstone, Potter (Cowan 59); Shandran (Graydon 45), Parkin. Subs not used: Wood, Wilding, Collinson.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Hinton 7, Scott 8, Stamps 7; Bennett 6 (McAuley 81), Flynn 7, WILLIAMS 9, Parrish 6 (Khela 81), Shilton 8; Bishop 7 (Foster 81), Broughton 6. Subs not used: Danby, Heath.

ATTENDANCE: 4,069.

SHOTS ON: York 3, Harriers 4.

SHOTS OFF: York 5, Harriers 4.

CORNERS: York 7, Harriers 8.

GOALS: None.

YELLOW CARDS: York 1 (Jones), Harriers 3 (Bennett, Parrish, Scott).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. Ran the show again for Harriers from midfield for his 11th man-of-the-match award. Must be the favourite for the player-of-the-season accolade.