HARRIERS started their season in lively fashion with a 3-3 draw at Alfreton Town.

Neil MacFarlane’s men twice led at the Impact Arena but, thanks to a late penalty, were made to settle for a share of the spoils.

The new Aggborough manager opted to start with Ashley Chambers and Joe Ironside up front ably assisted by Dan Bradley, and it was the latter who opened the scoring. After a few skirmishes at either end and a header wide by Chambers, the former Alfreton man took a ball from a throw in in his stride before rifling it into the far corner from distance midway through the half.

Harriers might then have added a second as Declan Weeks played in a corner to the feet of Chambers who clattered an effort off the bar, before the scores were level up at the other end when, from a corner, Platt rose highest to nod beyond Brandon Hall.

It looked like the two teams would go into the break even, but Alfreton had other ideas and, on the stroke of the interval, stole ahead when Denton was left with the simplest of tasks in easing the ball in at the far post from a deep cross.

Just as Alfreton had ended that half with a goal, so too Harriers kicked off the second period in sensational style. On as a sub for Chambers, Kane Richards marked his debut with a goal as he turned home Sam Austin’s cross inside the area.

Richards then came close to a second before Alfreton’s Denton nudged a header wide as the two teams traded punches in the searing heat at the Impact Arena. Seven after the hour mark, though, Harriers were ahead once more thanks to a sublime individual effort from Joe Ironside. Last season’s top scorer took the ball down in the six yard area, turned and hit a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 3-2.

From there it looked like the visitors might go on and win the game comfortably as the hosts tired, but with just five left on the clock it would be 3-3 as a Daniels foul inside the area saw the hosts given the chance to restore parity from twelve yards, which Johnson duly did – despite a strong palm from Brandon Hall.

Harriers: Hall, Austin, Vaughan, Horsfall, O’Connor, Johnson, Weeks, Bradley, Daniels, Ironside, Chambers (Richards 46).

Subs not used: Digie, Williams, Baxendale, Taylor Attendance: 754 Referee: Sam Barrott