Sunday, December 29, 2002

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers missed the chance to move into the Nationwide League Division Three play-off zone when they allowed Bury to hit back for a 1-1 draw in yesterday's clash at rain-drenched Gigg Lane.

Bo Henriksen put Harriers ahead from the penalty spot in the 49th minute but The Shakers shared the spoils by snatching a 77th minute equaliser through Jon Newby.

The deadlock left Aggborough boss Ian Britton's men in tenth place in the table, one point away from a play-off position.

The match went ahead after a couple of pitch inspections and the final outcome was a fair reflection of the play in the first ever league meeting between the two clubs.

Henriksen admitted afterwards that Harriers were 'quite happy' with a draw which followed their recent victories over Leyton Orient and Wrexham.

He said: "To be honest I think 1-1 is fair enough. To be fair to Bury they are a good side. They want to play the ball around.

"I didn't play my best game but there were one or two situations in the second half where I could have put one more goal in. We have got a point and we are quite happy with that.

"After the first half an hour we started to play a bit more and show what we are capable of doing."

Kidderminster were rarely a threat up front in the first half with the best chance falling to on-loan striker Andy Bishop who headed wide from a Sam Shilton corner.

Four minutes after the break, however, Harriers grabbed their opportunity to go ahead when Henriksen was pushed in the back by Steve Redmond while challenging for a cross.

The Danish front-runner quickly stepped up to confidently send keeper Glyn Garner the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Sixth-in-the-table Bury, managed by former Worcester City striker Andy Preece, went close to drawing level shortly afterwards when Newby had a shot graze the top of the bar.

Newby, however, was bang on target for the equaliser which followed a neat build-up by Chris Billy and substitute David Nugent.

A mistake by Stuart Brock almost let in Nugent a minute later but the grateful Kidderminster keeper recovered quickly to make an excellent save.

In the closing stages Henriksen fired wide to leave Harriers with a well earned point.

GOALSCORERS: Henriksen 49 pen (0-1), Newby 77 (1-1)

STAR PLAYER: Danny Williams

BOOKINGS: Bury - Clegg (foul).

ATTENDANCE: 3,202

REFEREE: G. Laws (Whitley Bay)

BURY: Garner, Swailes, Nelson, Unsworth, Billy, Preece (Lawson 73), Clegg, Redmond (Nugent 59), Dunfield (O'Shaughnessy 90), Woodthorpe, Newby. Subs (not used): Stuart, Barrass.

KIDDERMINSTER: Brock 6, Williams 8, Hinton 7, Bennett 7 (Joy 84), Shilton 7, Henriksen 6, Ayres 6, Flynn 6, Melligan 7, Coleman 7, Bishop 6. Subs (not used): Danby, Foster, Doyle, Khela.