Saturday, March 22, 2003

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers remain on course for a place in the Nationwide League Division Three play-offs despite dropping two precious points in a 2-2 draw with bottom-of-the-table Swansea City at Aggborough.

Other results on Saturday went in their favour enabling them to stay in ninth place just one point away from the play-off zone.

"People will say it's two points lost but because of the other results it's a point gained," said Kidderminster boss Ian Britton.

It was off-colour Harriers second home 2-2 draw within a week after being forced to share the spoils with Shrewsbury Town the previous Tuesday.

The two deadlocks have now put added pressure on Britton's men to get back to winning ways against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank tomorrow.

Certainly they will need to improve on Saturday's disappointing performance when they twice went ahead with goals from Sam Shilton and Adie Smith.

Britton said: "It was very frustrating. To be fair to Swansea they deserved what they got. We didn't do enough to win the game.

"We scored the goals at the right times, but fair play to Swansea they came back and got their goals through our inabilities. They got a well deserved point.

"I think some of my players forgot we are a footballing side. We didn't get the ball down enough, didn't pass enough and if we had done that it might have been a bit different."

Harriers, who remain four points away from an automatic promotion spot, found the Swans a far different proposition to when they trounced them 4-0 at Vetch Field in October.

The draw, however, failed to enable boss Brian Flynn's men to move off the foot of the table.

Harriers went ahead in the eighth minute when a cross from Shilton deceived goalkeeper Neil Cutler and went into the net off the inside of the far post.

The battling Swans forced their way back on to level terms in the 22nd minute when a strong 30 yard shot from Roberto Martinez was only half stopped by keeper Fraser Digby allowing Lenny Johnrose to fire in the loose ball from close range.

Kidderminster, however, regained the lead ten minutes later when a corner by Shilton found Smith who cracked in the rebound after his initial header had been blocked by Cutler. It was Smith's first goal of the season.

Swansea again hit back to equalise in the 35th minute when Martinez curled a free kick over Harriers defensive 'wall' and into the net off a post.

After an entertaining first half the second period turned into a scrappy affair with neither side able to break through again.