HARRIERS 2 SWANSEA 2

THE Division Three promotion circus continued with just one club in the top 11 winning on another crazy Saturday.

Mixed-up results have been the order of the season but this time they certainly let Kidderminster Harriers off the hook.

Harriers' 2-2 home draw with bottom-of-the-table Swansea was a poor result and certainly a bad display.

But with only Bury winning out of the expected promotion challengers, Ian Britton's men were still very much in the shake-up after the weekend.

Harriers were given an early wake-up call against Swansea who were much improved from October's 4-0 hammering at the Vetch Field.

Winger Brad Maylett, one of their many loan signings, nipped onto a long throw inadvertently flicked on by Harrier Wes Morgan but keeper Fraser Digby blocked the ball at close quarters.

And on eight minutes the home side took the lead with one of their luckiest goals of the season.

Wideman Sam Shilton, found by Danny Williams' pass, launched a long cross which deceived keeper Neil Cutler and rebounded in off the far post.

Shilton tried to add to his fifth goal of the season with an inaccurate long-range drive soon after.

At the other end, Harriers' defence was torn apart by Maylett whose run and pull-back was blazed over by Swansea top scorer James Thomas on 17 minutes.

But the visitors' equaliser arrived from another source on 22 minutes, that of classy midfielder Roberto Martinez.

His fierce 25-yarder was blocked by the body of Digby for the waiting Lenny Johnrose to tap home as Harriers' keeper desperately scrambled in a bid to retrieve the loose ball.

Harriers were struck again when Morgan left the field injured though it did allow Britton to strengthen the left flank with the introduction of Scott Stamps in a switch to a four-man defence.

And the move was largely successful with Adie Smith grabbing his first goal of the season to regain the lead on 32 minutes.

Shilton's corner was headed goalwards by the long-serving utility man and a defensive block only gave a close-range volley on a plate for Smith.

But Swansea levelled three minutes later with Harriers conceding a free-kick 20 yards from goal.

Martinez curled a terrific set-piece over the wall and into the net via Digby's right-hand post.

Harriers' defence had tightened up slightly but for a dozy moment on 38 minutes when target man Kevin Nugent escaped though the Harriers keeper pushed his effort wide.

A dreadful second period saw little in the way of chances for either side with Britton's men struggling despite the best efforts of Williams in midfield.

The introduction of top scorer Bo Henriksen, back from a hamstring injury, made little difference to nervy Harriers.

HARRIERS: Digby 5; Morgan 5 (Stamps 25, 6), Scott 6, Hinton 5; Smith 6, Melligan 5, WILLIAMS 7, Flynn 5, Shilton 5; Broughton 5 (Henriksen 58, 5), Bishop 5 (Foster 81). Subs not used: Brock, Parrish.

SWANSEA: Cutler; Jenkins, O'Leary, Tate, Hylton (Howard 82); Britton, Martinez, Johnrose; Maylett, Nugent, Thomas. Subs not used: Mumford, Watkin, Phillips, Williams.

ATTENDANCE: 3,172.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 7, Swansea 7.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 5, Swansea 3.

CORNERS: Harriers 5, Swansea 4.

GOALS: Shilton 8, Johnrose 22, Smith 32, Martinez 35.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 3 (Williams, Stamps, Henriksen), Swansea 0.

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. Can always be counted on for an energetic and competitive display in midfield, even on the bad days.