KEEPER Alex Palmer produced a man of the match display as Harriers earned a battling point in Cumbria.

Reece Styche had fired the Reds ahead in the fifth minute and looked comfortable in the second half.

But Barrow raised their game after the break and a fine individual effort from Andy Cook had levelled the scores.

With Harriers on the back foot, Palmer denied the hosts with two penalty stops, including a fine double save from Cook.

With top scorer Gurjit Singh missing because of a groin strain, Harriers drafted in Aman Verma.

Barrow also made one change from the side which won at Macclesfield, with George Williams replaced by Dave Symington.

Apart from a defeat to Aldershot, the Bluebirds boasted a fine home record but it was Kidderminster who opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

The visitors had repelled a Barrow corner and Jared Hodgkiss picked out Reece Styche with a searching long range diagonal pass.

The striker raced into the box and slotted the ball past keeper Joel Dixon, who had got the faintest of touches.

Barrow spent the rest of the first half piling the pressure on Harriers but struggled to test custodian Palmer.

Jason Walker fired wide in the 15th minute but for all the control, the home side struggled to create chances.

Luke Maxwell tested Dixon with a long range effort in the 25th.

Barrow's best chance to level the scores in the 35th minute. Ben van den Broek drove down the right and delivered a cross but Paddy Lacey directed a looping header over the ball.

Barrow bagged a superb leveller in the 51st minute.

The dangerous Cook levelled the scores in the 51st minute, beating Palmer with a spectacular half volley which flew into the roof of the goal.

Harriers survived a scare moments later when Kevin Toner appeared to foul Jason Walker in the box but the referee ignored the home team's please for a penalty.

But keeper Palmer came to the fore and, denying Cook from close range in the 58th minute.

But the Kidderminster shot-stopper produced a fine double save to keep the scores level.

Harriers will feel aggrieved for being punished with a penalty after Kelvin Langmead was judged to have pushed Cook.

Cook's penalty was poorly struck down the middle and Palmer saved well but produced an even better stop as he dived to block the striker's follow-up with his feet.

The keeper then needed treatment after a clash of heads with sub Anthony Wilson but he was okay to continue and produced more heroics.

Barrow were awarded a second penalty in the 82nd minute after Jordan Tunnicliffe was adjudged go have fouled Wilson. The defender was also booked for dissent.

But Palmer dived to his right to beat away Ashley Grimes' effort.

The Worcestershire side then survived a tense five minutes of added time to earn a battling point, despite Danny Livesey seeing a headed goal ruled out for a push.

Barrow: Dixon, Symington, Ashton, Livesey, Grand, Lacey (Ray-Harvey, 57), Cowperthwaite, Haworth, Walker (Wilson, 57), Cook, van den Broek (Grimes, 74).

Subs: Taylor, Williams.

Harriers: Palmer, Hodgkiss, Maxwell, Langmead, Clarke, Verma (Wright, 56), Tunnicliffe, Styche (Dinsley, 77) , Jones (Green, 66), Campbell, Toner.

Subs not used: Snedker, Millinchamp.

Referee: J Johnson.

Attendance: 1232