Forest Green Rovers 1,  Harriers 1

NICK Wright bagged a leveller as Harriers produced a much improved display to earn a point in Gloucestershire on Tuesday night.

Wright pounced in the second half to cancel out Paul Green's 13th minute effort.

Harriers had been blown away as the hosts carved out numerous chances in a one-sided first half but they rode their luck and ended the game as the stronger side.

They also had a contentious last gasp winner ruled at the death for handball.

The draw means Kidderminster's play-off dreams in the Skrill Premier are hanging by a thread.  They fell to 11th but with six matches left, are six points off fifth place.

With captain Kyle Storer hit by a three match ban after pleading guilty to violent conduct following a melee at Salisbury, Harriers were unchanged from the side which narrowly lost to Grimsby on Saturday.

But they were nearly blown away by Rovers' impressive start.

Forest Green dangerman James Norwood pounced on a stray pass from Chey Dunkley and raced goalwards in the third minute.

Centre back Jamie Grimes did well to give chase but the hitman fired in a shot which Danny Lewis did well to save.

Norwood planted a header over the bar from a corner.

Harriers' defence was all at sea and Bradley Jordan's heavily deflected effort flew just a fraction wide.

Eddie Oshodi then powered a header just off target in the eighth minute.

The visiting defence was finally breached in the 13th minute.

Norwood started the move with a pacey run and he released Yan Klukowski, who drove in an angled effort.

Lewis saved but diverted the ball into the path of Green, who fired home the rebound.

Matt Taylor was given too much time and space to race onto Norwood's lofted pass and much to the relief of Kidderminster and volleyed wide.

The visitors were barely able to get out out their own  half because of their sloppy passing.

Oshodi then same close with another header in the 32nd minute but his diving effort flew off target.

Kidderminster slowly but surely worked their way back into the match.

Jack Byrne forced keeper Sam Russell to scramble the ball away at his post with a well hit long range effort in the 33rd.

Striker Nick Wright then spun sharply on the edge of the box and drew a stop from Russell.

Byrne was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Norwood.

But the away side got back on levels terms in the 49th minute.  Mickey Demetriou raced into the box and then intelligently slipped the ball to Wright, who slotted home for his first goal since returning to Kidderminster.

Midfielder Josh O'Keefe then headed an effort onto the top of the netting.

The game was an even affair but the home side had chances.

Lewis then did well to get behind a low effort from Green which the keeper would have seen late in the 62nd minute.

Jordan missed the target moments later, while a raking free-kick from Green was inches wide.

Amari Morgan-Smith then saw an 15-yard effort pushed away by Russell.

Whild range the changes and took off Wright and Morgan-Smith and threw on Aman Verma and Adrian Cieslewicz.

Forest Green carved out a chance in the 78th minute after a speedy break but Taylor flashed his effort just wide.

Cieslewicz created a good chance in the 82nd minute when he sped past tall defender Luke Oliver but his firm shot was spectacularly beaten away Rovers' keeper.

Former Kidderminster striker then cleared an effort from a Reds man off the line.

The game descended into chaos at the death when Harriers were initially awarded a goal when it appeared O'Keefe had punched Amari'i Bell's free-kick into the back of the net.  The incensed home players surrounded the referee who after several minutes deliberation chalked off the strike.

In the end, Harriers were denied the three points they needed to give their play-off hopes a boost.

Harriers: Lewis, L Vaughan, Demetriou, Dunkley, Byrne, Gash, Wright (Verma, 67), Grimes, Morgan-Smith (Cieslewicz, 74), O'Keefe, Bell.

Subs not used: Malbon, Blissett, N Vaughan.

Forest Green: Russell, Hodgkiss, Bennett, Norwood, Klukowski, Taylor, Oshodi, Oliver, Green, Barry, Jordan.

Subs not used: Bangura, Wright, White, Rodgers, Hughes.

Referee: Brett Huxtable.

Attendance: 1231 (285)