HARRIERS assistant manager Neil Howarth believes that the Aggborough side were denied a late penalty by referee Amy Rayner in Saturday's Blue Square Premier 1-1 draw with Histon (read report).

Iyseden Christie was wrestled to the ground by defender Patrick Ada in the 83rd minute but the Leicestershire official ignored the home team and fans' pleas and booked the striker for dissent.

Despite dropping two points at home to high-flying Histon, Harriers extended their unbeaten league run to seven games and moved up the table to ninth.

"From where I was sitting it was a definite penalty. I thought Amy had a good game, but she made a mistake and these things happen," said Howarth.

Harriers would have won the game at a canter if they had taken a host of chances in the first half.

Christie fired his side into an eighth minute lead to score for the seventh successive match and make it 11 goals in as many games.

Histon keeper Danny Naisbitt made good saves to deny Christie and Simon Russell, while Dean Bennett and Andy Ferrell hit the bar.

But the Cambridgeshire side levelled the scores in the 52nd minute after Dean Coleman spilled the ball under pressure and Danny Wright pounced.

Howarth said: "We're very disappointed not to win the game. We controlled it for 75 minutes but there was a 15 minute period when they got the goal.

"We weren't in any trouble but they were having more of the play than we would have liked, but the game should have been out of their reach."

"We hit the woodwork twice and their keeper made two great saves. We could have gone in at half-time four or five goals up like we did at Halifax and Crawley.

"But we didn't have the little bit of luck we needed. After they scored weren't at our best for five minutes but got back into the game and controlled it again.

"My gut instinct was it wasn't a foul but having said that Dean adamant.

"We've worked on what Histon do all week, they do throw things in the box, take a lot of set pieces and crowd the goalkeeper and despite that one incident we do look very comfortable."