STEWART Hadley's 67th minute header ensured Kidderminster Harriers left the Bescot Stadium with a share of the spoils as Jan Molby's side claimed a 1-1 draw with Walsall on Tuesday night.

The former Mansfield Town striker nodded home Tony Bird's header across the face of goal to send 600 plus Harriers fans wild in the first leg of the Worthington Cup first round tie.

The stalemate sets up a mouth-watering second leg clash, now expected to be close to a sell-out at Aggborough in a couple of weeks.

The draw was no more than the visitors deserved after a hard-working display which stifled the pacy Walsall attack.

Molby was proved justified in his pre-game plan of packing the midfield and playing a predominantly counter attacking style.

However, early on it looked as if it would be a case of damage limitation when Jorge Leitao put the Saddlers in front after eight minutes following a fine run from Hungarian international Gabor Bukran.

Walsall looked a class act in patches with Bukran and Darren Byfield particularly impressive.

However, with Ian Bogie making his full debut for the visitors and Barry Horne outstanding in midfield, Harriers were more than a match for their Division Two counterparts.

Ray Graydon's men should have wrapped the game up early in the second half when they spurned numerous opportunities. However, they were made to pay for their generosity in front of goal by Hadley's header.

Harriers' performance was a complete transformation from the side which slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

The league newboys came down to earth with a bump after their carnival-style victory over Torquay despite playing with an extra man for most of the game.

The Iron were reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute when, after a 50-50 challenge with Paul Webb, Scunthorpe skipper Nigel Pepper punched the former Bromsgrove midfielder while still lying on the floor.

As the Scunthorpe man was being stretchered off with a broken leg, referee Chris Foy rubbed salt into Pepper's wound by showing him the red card.

Two minutes later Steve Torpey headed home unmarked at the far post to put Scunthorpe ahead and with 15 minutes left in the second half, Wayne Graves buried Kidderminster with a neat chip over Tim Clarke.

Harriers rarely threatened Tommy Evans' goal and had to wait until the 80th minute before a decent cross went into the opposition's box.

Dean Bennett spurned the best opportunity for Kidderminster in the first half when, with the goal at his mercy, he completely missed his kick.

Bird's header late on was well saved by Evans but, in truth, the home side deserved the points.

The game, however, will be remembered more for the sending off than the result.