Harriers 1, Southport 1

JACK Byrne bagged a brilliant leveller but Harriers were frustrated by relegation battling Southport at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers had been trailing to Danny Hattersley's 27th minute effort.

Despite having the lion's share of possession, the hosts failed to really test Sandgrounders keeper Danny Hurst.

Byrne's 77th minute effort ensured manager Gary Whild has yet to taste defeat since taking the reins but Harriers slipped three places to eighth, although are just one point off the play-off spots.

The hosts could have opened the scoring in the first minute when Anthony Malbon raced towards goal but as he was chased down by Southport's defender's,  he shot an effort at Hurst.

Josh Gowling came close from a corner when he had an effort from close range deflected wide.

Malbon nearly fired them ahead in the 25th minute after good work by Michael Gash who had won the all off a defender.

He slipped the ball to Malbon who let fly with a right-footed effort,  which may have curled in at the far post only for Hattersley to make a brave block.

However, they paid the price for a lack of concentration when they fell behind in the 27th minute.

Jason Walker rode several poor challenges when he drove in from the right and after John O'Sullivan had an effort blocked, Hattersley poked the ball home.

Tempers flared on the half mark after a clash between Gash and Hattersley but Kidderminster skipper Josh Gowling and Southport's Toto Nsiala were booked.

Gowling had been trying to calm down the situation, when the clearly furious Nsiala tried get in his face and the Harriers man put his hand around the Southport player's throat.

Harriers had been playing attractive football in patches but lacked the energy in midfield to close down their opponents.

One slick move ended with the out of sorts Byrne opted to pass in the box instead of shooting.

The hosts came out in determined fashion to find a leveller.

Malbon skipped past his marker in the first minute of the second half but Callum Gittings was unable to get a shot in.

Harriers carved put an excellent move in the 52nd minute. Gittings drove forward with purpose and Lee Vaughan delivered a low cross which Gash hit first time only for it to hit a defender.

Southport were being pegged back but Karl Ledsham saw a well-struck long range effort fly over the bar.

Byrne then saw a firmly struck effort from 20-yards fly just a fraction off target.

Striker Nick Wright then replaced Danny Jackman in the 62nd minute to pep up the home side's attack.

Harriers were in complete control but for all their possession were not testing keeper Hurst.

But the breakthrough came in the 77th minute. Southport had not cleared Mickey Demetriou's excellent cross effectively from the left and Byrne slammed a first time effort into the bottom right corner.

Gash then saw a glorious chance to fire Kidderminster ahead in the 81st minute. Demetriou delivered a good corner but the striker's header crashed off the far post.

The woodwork came to their rescue in the 94th minute. Ledsham's free-kick fell to David Fitzpatrick and his howitzer beat Danny Lewis but crashed off the post and ricocheted to safety.

Harriers: Lewis, L Vaughan, Demetriou, Byrne, Gash (Blissett, 82), Malbon, Grimes, Jackman (Wright, 62), Gittings, Morgan-Smith, Gowling.

Subs not used: N Vaughan, O'Keefe, Bell.

Southport: Hurst, Brown, Nsiala, Walker (Mukendi, 89), Ledsham, Hattersley, George, Fitzpatrick, Osawe (Brodie,91), O'Sullivan, Daly.

Subs not used: Challoner, Rutherford, Joyce.

Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey).

Attendance: 1818 (71)