Saturday, February 8, 2003

DION Scott could hardly have made a better start for Kidderminster Harriers after securing their first Division Three point at Carlisle United since joining the Football League.

The former Walsall centre-back, who helped Harriers to a rare clean sheet on his debut against Bournemouth, headed home the final equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Brunton Park on Saturday.

Though the club are yet to beat struggling Carlisle in six league games, boss Ian Britton was happy with his players' battling qualities as they twice fought back from being a goal down.

The point could prove vital in Harriers' play-off quest with a key home game against Torquay United on Saturday.

But defensive errors were again under the spotlight and new 'keeper Fraser Digby was to blame for Carlisle's opener.

However, a satisfied Britton said: "To fight back showed a lot of character and we did well in the end. We created chances but so did they and generally 2-2 was a fair result.

"At 1-1, I really believed that we could have gone on to win but it wasn't to be and they scored another sloppy goal.

"Fraser has admitted he should have done better with their first goal. With his experience he should have stopped it but the lead-up to the goal wasn't very good."

Harriers' lively start counted for little as Richie Foran deceived Digby at his near post from an angle on seven minutes after being set up by Adam Rundle.

The visitors should have been further behind but Foran drove over and then Craig Farrell tapped a simple close-range chance wide.

Top scorer Bo Henriksen punished the Cumbrians with his 13th goal of the season on 29 minutes, finding the net from 25 yards after beating 'keeper Matt Glennon to Dean Bennett's long pass.

But Carlisle were ahead again five minutes before half-time when Adie Smith slipped, letting in Rundle to loop Brian Shelley's hopeful punt forward into the net off the advancing Digby.

Britton's second-half introduction of substitutes Drewe Broughton and John Melligan seemed to fire up Harriers who were staring defeat in the face.

They dominated in search of an equaliser and Glennon was forced to push a Scott header from Sam Shilton's corner past his post.

But there was no escape from Scott on 83 minutes as he powered a Melligan flag-kick past the keeper for his first Football League goal.

Britton added: "Dion's done well again. He was solid without being spectacular and took his goal very well."