JAN Molby heaped praise on sharp-shooter Stewart Hadley after his 67th minute strike earned Kidderminster Harriers a 1-1 draw at Walsall last night in the Worthington Cup.

The Kidderminster boss could hardly contain himself after watching his side hit back from a Jorge Leitao goal in just eight minutes.

Hadley met a Tony Bird header across the goal to nod home from three yards and sent 600-plus Harriers fans into ecstacy.

Molby said: "Hadley was outstanding all night and could have had a hat-trick.

"He really gave the two centre halves a tough time considering he played up front on his own -- he was magnificent.

"I've complained about the centre-forwards' performances against Scunthorpe on Saturday, but the way he's battled tonight was tremendous."

Molby believed the draw was no more than his side deserved despite being bombarded by the Division Two side at times.

He said: "The game was played at a tremendous pace and I thought, apart from a 15-minute spell in the second-half when they really battered us, we gave as good as we got and was delighted with our fitness at the end which showed up well."

The draw was a tactical victory for the Dane who packed his midfield and sent his side out with a counter-attacking game plan.

Strikers Bird and Ian Foster worked the flanks, while Barry Horne, Dean Bennett and Ian Bogie, making his full debut, stifled the Walsall flow in midfield.

The draw sets the scene for a bumper crowd at Aggborough for the second leg in two week's time.

Harriers: Clarke 7, Clarkson 8, Stamps 7, Hinton 9, Bennett 7, Horne 8, Bird 8, Foster 8, Shail 7, Bogie 8 (Smith 73), Hadley 8. Subs (not used): Pope, Davies, Corbett, Brock.