Worcester City 2 Kidderminster Harriers 2

TWO late strikes in the space of a minute denied Worcester City a deserved victory over rivals Kidderminster Harriers at St George's Lane in an entertaining 2-2 draw.

With John Barton's side two up with three minutes left on the clock Bo Henriksen poked a shot through Paul Wyatt's legs and 30 seconds later the Dane split the City defence for Andrew Corbett to rifle home.

If the conclusion of the match was disappointing for Barton, the opening 45 minutes were more than encouraging as City produced some outstanding football.

"It's a clich but it was just a very good workout," said Barton.

"However there were some encouraging signs and in the end it was disappointing that we didn't win.

"The pleasing aspect was the manner of the performance and I thought John Snape and David Foy were excellent in the first hour."

Harriers in contrast continued a less than impressive pre-season build up which has seen them win just once but also lose to Dr Martens Western Division outfit Solihull Borough.

City had signalled their attacking intentions as early as the third minute when Darren Middleton fired a shot that Stuart Brock plucked out of the air after three minutes.

Six minutes later City were one up as Brock's clearance struck Lee Ayres and rebounded into the path of Adam Webster who slid the opening goal home.

A marvellous piece of opportunism by Middleton almost saw the goal of the season when he caught Brock off his line but his 35 yard shot from wide on the right drifted inches past the post.

Harriers struggled to impose themselves on the match but still remained a potent threat and Andy Ducros was only denied in the 38th minute by a brilliant McDonnell stop. From the corner Broughton's header was cleared off the line by Paul Carty.

Trialist Jamie Edwards put City two up after 54 minutes dancing round two challenges before chipping Brock.

Four minutes later a snap shot from Owen shook the bar but gradually Harriers hauled themselves back into the match with McDonnell thwarting Corbett and Carty clearing another Henriksen effort in the 67th minute.

Eventually their persistence paid off however and Henriksen and Corbett struck to spare the Third Division side's blushes.

Worcester: McDonnell (Wyatt 85), Holloway (Hodge 70), Shail (Burrow 61), Heeley, Carty, Snape, Foy, Middleton (Jackson 46), Webster, Owen (Middleton 78), Blackwood (Edwards 46).

Harriers: Brock, Hinton (Doyle 46), Smith (Doyle 46), Bennett, Parrish, Broughton (Corbett 64), Ducros (Shilton 46), Lewis (Henriksen 57), Ayres, Joy, Williams.