Rushden looked the better team in the early, scrappy stages with the pacy Partridge a handful up front.

Harriers started with Bennett in attack and Appleby in midfield as they did at Lincoln.

But Harriers struggled to get into the game although Bennett forced their first corner on 14 minutes.

Appleby and Stamps worked a training ground flag-kick routine but the former blasted the ball wildly over the bar from just inside the area.

The visitors forced a corner on 16 minutes but it came to nothing as the game continued to disappoint.

Appleby was booked on 22 minutes after hacking down left back Underwood in the centre circle. Ritchie Appleby