Clark leveller stuns Harriers (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Clark leveller stuns Harriers

5:07pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

Harriers 1, Gateshead 1

HARRIERS were stunned as Gateshead grabbed a late leveller at Aggborough on Saturday.

Steve Burr's side looked on course for a win which would have lifted them near mid-table in the Blue Blue Square Bet Premier only to pay the price for a defensive lapse late on.

Anthony Malbon had opened the scoring 42 seconds after the re-start and had looked in charge but Ben Clark's scrappy goal earned the North East side a point.

Neither side could find a way through in  a sterile first half.

Striker Nathan Blissett was a willing runner for Harriers. He pounced on the dithering of keeper Adam Bartlett and Clark but he was forced to go wide and Gateshead dealt with his cross.

Blissett had a good chance when Kyle Storer crossed from the right but his weak header rolled wide.

The hosts hit the woodwork when former Reds keeper Bartlett tipped Lee Vaughan's cross onto the bar.

Gateshead's neat approach play was troubling the home side and Josh Gillies saw a decent hit fly over the bar.

Josh Brown had the first on target chance of the game mid-way through the half but his volley was straight at keeper Nathan Vaughan.

Storer nearly broke the deadlock when he tried to clear Yemi Odubade's searching cross and headed the ball onto the woodwork.

But Harriers came close to opening the lead late in the half.

Malbon did well to hold onto the ball with Bartlett pulled out of position and found captain Keith Briggs but his thundering effort was somehow saved by a desperately diving keeper.

But Harriers took the lead 42 seconds after the re-start. Mike Williams combined to great effect on the left and crossed at the far post, Malbon lashed home the shot from 15 yards.

Blissett was denied by Bartlett in the 54th minute. The striker raced onto Keith Briggs' throughball and then fired goal wards but Bartlett tipped it over the bar.

Blissett was denied again moments later, this time scrambling the hitman's low shot away from the base of his post.

Harriers continued to ask more quests than the visitors and they nearly added a second in the 84th minute.  Vaughan crossed from the right and substitute Richard Peniket mis-cued the shot at the far post and Blissett fired wide.

But despite their control, the hosts were pegged back in the 89th minute when Gillies' free-kick hit Clark and rolled over the line to leave them stunned.

Harriers: N Vaughan, L Vaughan, Storer, Williams, Vincent, Rowe (Johnson, 59),  Malbon (Peniket, 72), Blissett, Briggs, Dunkley, Gowling.

Subs: Lewis, Demetriou, Gittings.

Gateshead: Bartlett, Magnay, Boyle, Curtis, Clark, Gillies, Turnbull (Cummins, 82),  Odubade ( Bush, 81), Brown (Fisher , 67), Donaldson, Bullock.

Subs: Wilson, Nixon.

Referee: Lee Swabey. Devon).

Attendance: 1,639 (27)