Saturday, July 29, 2006

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers completed their second successive pre-season friendly without scoring a goal with a stalemate at Southern League Premier Division club Hales-owen Town.

Harriers failed to prise open a resolute Yeltz defence although it was not through want of trying. Dean Stur-ridge, Michael Blackwood, Scott Eaton and Luke Reynolds all missed good opportunities.

Not even an appearance by Kidderminster's latest signing winger Brian Smikle from West Bromwich Albion could conjure up a goal for manager Mark Yates Conference side.

Halesowen included former Aggborough favourites Matt Lewis and Chris Brindley in their side and it was Town who were the first to threaten a goal with Scott Bevan being forced into a seventh minute save. Harriers first strike on goal came on the half-hour when Blackwood's drive was saved by the Halesowen goalkeeper Woodhall.

Eaton had two chances to grab the lead before the interval, the first came from Simon Russell's cross and the second following a run from Black-wood also proved fruitless.

Just before the end of the half Stuart Whitehead should have done better with a corner from Jonny Harkness but his header went over the bar.

The second-half continued in the same vein with Harriers chances going begging.

Luke Reynolds blasted a shot over the bar and Sturridge fired into the side netting after being set up by Smikle.

Halesowen's best chance came through Lewis, but he was tackled just before he was about to shoot.

Sturridge could have wrapped up a morale-boosting win for Kidderminster just before the end, but his shot hit the crossbar.

Harriers: Bevan, Harkness (Sedgemore), Hurren (Mc-Grath), Creighton, Whitehead, McClen, Blackwood, Reynolds (White), Russell (Smikle), Penn, Eaton (Sturridge).