HARRIERS 2, HARTLEPOOL 2

THE defensive blues continued for Kidderminster Harriers whose play-off task is growing tougher all the time.

Harriers' failure to win in five games at such a crucial stage of the season is hardly akin to promotion form.

Conceding an equaliser deep into injury-time against Division Three's leaders may sound like bad luck but it was again down to more kamikaze defending.

Harriers, deservedly two goals up following a very impressive first half, let their lead slip and were thankful for the improved form of back-in-favour keeper Stuart Brock.

Consistent defensive errors have meant Harriers conceding two or more goals in 21 of the last 28 games since their excellent October run.

It is a statistic that is likely to haunt boss Ian Britton whose team have always looked likely to score goals when the likes of Bo Henriksen and John Melligan are playing.

Harriers have so often lacked concentration at key stages in games, such as failing to pick Darrell Clarke up for his volley on Saturday.

Yet there is no doubt they can comfortably compete with the best in the division when they are on their game.

Britton's men made light work of table-toppers Hartlepool in the first period and could have been even further ahead.

With Henriksen and Melligan making such a difference, they proceeded to pass their way through a side who had slipped up recently, losing three on the trot away from home.

Once a low shot from Clarke had been gathered by Brock on eight minutes, the play belonged to Harriers.

But their luck seemed out when Andy Bishop hooked a close-range effort onto the underside of the crossbar from Henriksen's cross.

Then Henriksen picked up his 10th booking of the season and a two-match ban for diving in the penalty area, according to Humberside referee Carl Boyeson.

Though Hartlepool's Ritchie Humphreys headed over following a rare mistake from Brock, Harriers were ahead on 22 minutes.

Nimble footwork from Sam Shilton in the area worked an opening for Bishop though his shot was blocked.

However, the ball ran on past grounded keeper Anthony Williams off a defender and Henriksen was there first to prod it over the line.

The home side did not let up with Sean Flynn's shot well held by A Williams before Bishop scored his first goal in 14 games on 27 minutes.

The on-loan forward finished lethally just inside the far post after Hartlepool's defence made a terrible hash of a high ball.

A Bishop header was then fumbled over the bar by the over-worked visitors' keeper.

And a badly sliced clearance from Chris Westwood presented Henriksen with a great chance to bury Hartlepool.

But, from just inside the box, the 19-goal top scorer fired too close to A Williams who saved with his legs.

It was to prove costly as Hartlepool worked their way back into the encounter and scored their first through Clarke's unmarked far-post volley from Paul Arnison's free-kick on 63 minutes.

Brock seemed to have held off the leaders though following a good save from Kevin Henderson and an even better block to stop Mark Tinkler soon after.

But he could do nothing about substitute Eifion Williams's injury-time equaliser, the striker latching onto Dion Scott's weak back header and calmly placing the ball into the net.

Harriers are now four points away from the play-off zone with another tough test to come at fellow top-seven chasers Oxford United on Saturday.

HARRIERS: BROCK 8; A Smith 7, Scott 6, Hinton 7; Bennett 6, Melligan 7, D Williams 7, Flynn 7, Shilton 7; Henriksen 7 (Broughton 77), Bishop 7 (Stamps 88). Subs not used: Digby, Parish, McAuley.

HARTLEPOOL: A Williams; Arnison, Lee, Westwood, Robinson; Clarke, Tinkler, Humphreys, P Smith; Watson (E Williams 58), Henderson. Subs not used: Provett, Bass, Richardson, Boyd.

ATTENDANCE: 2,900.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 9, Hartlepool 7.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 5, Hartlepool 2.

CORNERS: Harriers 5, Hartlepool 3.

GOALS: Henriksen 22, Bishop 27, Clarke 63, E Williams 90.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 2 (Henriksen, A Smith), Hartlepool 2 (Lee, Tinkler).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Stuart Brock. Laid down his claim to be first-choice goalkeeper again with an impressive display, featuring several important saves and improved handling. Has been given another chance by Fraser Digby's injury.