HARRIERS 0 ROCHDALE 0

JUST how did Kidderminster Harriers fail to score in their clash with high-flying Rochdale on Saturday?

Harriers boss Ian Britton was thinking exactly the same thing but he boldly predicted displays like this would earn them a top-seven place.

The finishing certainly will not though and again it was target-man Drewe Broughton who had his head in his hands.

Broughton should have been on the scoresheet already by the time a gilt-edged injury-time opportunity came his way.

But he showed why that elusive first goal of the season is still missing by ballooning Ian Foster's perfect cross over the bar from just several yards out.

It was an amazing end to one of the most entertaining 0-0 draws you could wish to see and Harriers upped the tempo to impressive levels towards the end.

Fortunate Rochdale, one of the fancied sides for promotion, held on but to their credit never adopted a defensive attitude.

With Britton sticking to his promising 3-5-2 formation, the vastly improved form of Sam Shilton was apparent early on.

The wing-back had tested keeper Neil Edwards with a 20-yard drive and glanced a Bo Henriksen cross wide within the first six minutes.

Harriers, who have only conceded two goals in the last six league games, continued their mean streak against lively forwards.

Striker Clive Platt was given rare space to burst into the box but he fired straight at Stuart Brock.

Goals eluded Harriers though as Danny Williams' 25-yard thunderbolt was blocked by Edwards before Broughton and Henriksen wasted headed chances.

Rochdale gave a reminder of their set-piece danger when Paul Simpson's corner was flicked on by Platt but Connor nodded wide.

Simpson, benefiting from Patrick McCourt's creativity, fired off-target on 56 minutes from 18 yards.

But Harriers turned up the heat, forcing the visitors' defenders to work over-time.

Brock dealt confidently with two Simpson free-kicks before his team-mates, spurred on by the pace of subs Dean Bennett and Ian Foster, completely took over.

Broughton's trusty head again failed him on 80 minutes from one of several good Shilton crosses before Foster so nearly claimed the killer goal only to see his cross-shot hit the post.

Skipper Sean Flynn blasted inches over from 25 yards three minutes from time but it was left to Broughton to miss the chance-of-the-game late on.

HARRIERS: Brock 7; Clyde 7, Ayres 7, STAMPS 8; Hinton 6 (Bennett 77), Melligan 6 (Foster 77), Williams 7, Flynn 7, Shilton 7; Broughton 6, Henriksen 6. Subs: Danby, Doyle, Joy.

ROCHDALE: Edwards; Evans, Jobson, Griffiths, Doughty; McCourt, Oliver, Flitcroft, Simpson; Platt, Connor (McEvilly 83). Subs: Gilks, Hodges, Duffy, Townson. ATTENDANCE: 2,685.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 8, Rochdale 6.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 12, Rochdale 6.

CORNERS: Harriers 6, Rochdale 4.

GOALS: None.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 1 (Broughton), Rochdale 1 (Griffiths).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Scott Stamps. Sterling display from Stamps who has fitted neatly into a left-sided central defensive role. Barely put a foot wrong.