HEREFORD United chief Graham Turner was happy to escape with a point as Kidderminster Harriers manager Stuart Watkiss praised his troops.

The two clubs drew 1-1 at Aggborough in the big Nationwide Conference derby, watched by 3,241 fans, with Harriers bouncing back from Jamie Pitman's spectacular seventh-minute opener for the Bulls.

Taiwo Atieno headed an equaliser on 28 minutes but was later denied a winner by goalkeeper Wayne Brown's excellent reflexes as Harriers bossed much of the second-half in gusty conditions.

And Turner admitted: "I think before the game we might have taken the point. We went a goal ahead and started the game quite well.

"But the equaliser really put their tails up and set us back a notch or two.

"I was disappointed with the way we played when we had the ball. We didn't cause them enough problems.

"But in the end we've had to defend against the wind and some lively attacking play from them. It took a good save from Wayne Brown to get us the point."

Harriers manager Watkiss was happy with his team's display, with the point moving them up to 11th in the table, but continues to lament their inconsistency after an FA Cup exit at Southport the previous weekend.

He said: "I'm delighted with the way they've played and the effort and commitment the players have put in. But it makes it all the more frustrating because then you look back at last week and you try to fathom out why there can be such a marked contrast between the two performances.

"I thought it was a great game and a great advert for Conference football.

"Hereford had some chances as well but I thought we had the better ones.

"We told the players to ask questions of the defenders which they did.

"We've been guilty of not asking enough of the opposition in previous matches."