Northwich 1
Harriers 1

HARRIERS endured a frustrating night at the Victoria Stadium as they dropped two points away at bottom side Northwich Victoria in the Blue Square Premier on Tuesday night.

Justin Richards gave Harriers a first half lead but the home team out-fought the Aggborough team in a disappointing second half performance.

Harriers started sluggishly and were caught out by Northwich's bright start but roared into life after ten minutes to peg their opponents back.

James Constable flashed a 20-yard effort wide in the 11th minute as Harriers turned the screws.

Full-back Jonny Harkness sent in an excellent 35-yard free-kick but keeper Ben Connett pushed it around the post.

Northwich's goalkeeper came to his side's rescue moments later from the resulting corner, when he tipped away Justin Richards' close range header.

From the next corner Mark Creighton saw a powerful header smash off the cross bar, before Russ Penn galloped towards goal, only to be denied by Josh Wilson's block.

Stuart Whitehead and Mark Creighton were having to deal with an aerial bombardment, as Northwich made up for lack of skill with bags of effort.

Goalkeeper Chris MacKenzie, who had dealt calmly with a flurry of high balls into the box, then did well to get down to Paul Tait's low shot.

Harriers though edged ahead against the run of play when strikers James Constable and Justin Richards sliced them open in the 35th minute.

Constable, who had been booked moments earlier, broke down the right wing and sent in a lovely well-judged pass that Richards controlled instantly and slotted beyond Connett.

But the home side came out the stronger in the second half and out battled Harriers, who were failing to get to grips in midfield.

Harriers were pegged back by a pumped up Northwich side that relied on hard work rather than ability.

The visitors were also indebted to goalkeeper MacKenzie who made two excellent saves.

First he did well to make a great dive and push Brad Maylet's shot onto the post.

But the home side were not to be denied and Chris Williams latched onto Kevin Townson's pass to beat Harriers' stopper in the 51st minute.

Striker Kevin Townson headed wide with the goal at his mercy and was then denied by MacKenzie, who pushed away the Northwich's man's shot in the 71st minute.

Harriers could muster little going forward but the introduction of Michael McGrath gave them a lift and they battled back into the game.

MacKenzie did well to get a hold of Williams' fierce shot and McGrath send in an excellent free-kick in the 95th minute that Richards beat Connett to, but the ball went out of play as the game ended in a stalemate.

Harriers: MACKENZIE 8; Harkness 6 (McGrath, 68, 7); Creighton 6; Whitehead 6; Constable 6; Richards 6; Penn 6; Blackwood 5; Ferrell 5 (Barnes-Homer, 75) ; Bignot 5; Bennett 5.

Northwich: Connett; Battersby; Wilson; Strong; Brown; Carr; Heslop; Maylett (Byrne 75 (Johnson, 88); Williams; Townson; Tait (Maamria, 80).