Harriers 4, Salford City 4

KIDDERMINSTER let a four-goal lead slip in the last 10 minutes as they folded against leaders Salford City.

Goals from Mani Sonupe, Joe Ironside, Lee Vaughan and Dan Bradley put Harriers well in control at Aggborough before the visitors fought back late on.

It went from the sublime to the ridiculous as substitutes Josh Askew, Nick Horton and Mani Dieseruvwe exposed Harriers' defensive frailties before an injury time penalty saw the spoils shared.

Brandon Hall saved Tom Walker's initial effort but the attacker followed up from the rebound to stun the hosts.

Harriers were unchanged from their victory over York but had to do without boss John Eustace due to a three-game FA stadium ban following a melee between the management teams at Chorley in January.

A cagey start saw Harriers looking to dominate possession against the visitors.

It was Salford that worked the first opening, however, when Michael Nottingham headed Tom Walker's corner wide on eight minutes.

Harriers answered with two quick-fire efforts of their own as they began to have more joy in the final third.

First Bradley's 30 yard drive nearly deceived keeper Tim Erlandsson on nine minutes before Sonupe forced the stopper to push away his left-footed effort from just inside the box moments later.

Harriers made the breakthrough in the 21st minute when Sonupe kept his cool to fire them into the lead after a fortunate ricochet freed Ryan Croasdale in behind the City defence.

An attempted clearance from Nottingham hit a team-mate and fell to the home skipper. He burst into the area and found Sonupe at the far post to convert from ten yards.

Harriers continued to dominate the ball after going ahead with Salford looking short of ideas in attack.

The Reds doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute after Vaughan played in Ironside.

The striker took a touch into the area, cut onto his left foot and curled a sublime effort into the bottom corner.

Harriers were good value for their lead and took the two-goal advantage into the break as Walker could only curl a free-kick for Salford over Hall's bar from 20 yards out in the final moments.

The second half started as an even affair but with the hosts again quick to get their passing game going.

They bagged a third just 10 minutes into the half when Weeks won the ball in midfield and played in Vaughan. He powered into the box and finished neatly past Erlandsson.

A minute later it was four when Josh McQuilkin's ball over the top found the run of Bradley who slotted home.

Salford were well and truly on the ropes and should then have been reduced to 10 men when Walker showed his frustration and hacked out at McQuilkin just before the hour mark.

Somehow referee Gareth Rhodes decided a booking was enough of a punishment after both sets of players had clashed in the aftermath, for which Weeks also saw a yellow.

Harriers continued to manage the game well to limit Salford to efforts from range. One of which came from former Harrier Mani Dieseruvwe who dragged an effort wide approaching the final ten minutes.

The visitors did pull one back on 80 minutes when sub Josh Askew broke through a challenge in the area and fired powerfully beyond Hall.

They added a second in the final minute when sub Nick Horton fired a left-footed effort from range that somehow went under Hall.

Despite their dominance the Reds were suddenly rocked and facing an uncomfortable end to proceedings.

When Dieseruvwe headed in a corner in the 92nd minute it looked like the hosts could well throw it away.

Joel Taylor then gave away a spot kick deep into added time as the drama continued.

Walker's effort was initially saved by Hall but the attacker was on hand to convert the rebound in the sixth minute of added time.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for the hosts, especially given that they'll feel Walker should have previously been given his marching orders.

It will be more of a concern that late goals have again been this side's weakness at such a key time.

Harriers will have to bounce back from the disappointment when they go to Alfreton Town on Tuesday night.

Harriers: Hall, L.Vaughan, Taylor, Croasdale (c), Horsfall, Pearson, Weeks, McQuilkin (Digie 90), Ironside (Brown 75), Bradley, Sonupe (Austin 70).

Subs: Brown, Waring, Digie, N.Vaughan.

Salford: Erlandsson, Nottingham, Touray, Maynard, Piergianni, Hogan (c), Allan (Askew 56), Burton, Dudley (Horton 55), Redshaw (Dieseruvwe 45), Walker.

Unused subs: Madura, Phenix.

Att: 2,524.