Report: Ten-man Harriers bag late draw against Ashton United

TEN-man Harriers fought back a bag a late draw against newly-promoted Ashton United at Aggborough.

Substitute Kane Williams netted in injury time to make it three draws from three games this season.

An action-packed clash saw the home side two goals behind at the break before an improved second half eventually saw them share the spoils despite Dan Bradley's dismissal.

Kidderminster, who named the same starting line-up for the third successive match, made a slow start and were behind after just three minutes.

Liam Tomsett collected a loose ball, drove into the box and fed Matt Chadwick to finish under Brandon Hall to stun Aggborough.

It got worse for the hosts on six minutes when full-back Matt Regan curled in a 25-yard effort after cutting in from the left flank.

Harriers continued to be guilty of losing the ball in dangerous areas as they looked to rush passes forward.

The Reds worked hard looking for a way back but struggled to trouble visiting stopper Josh Ollerenshaw.

Declan Weeks saw a shot from distance well blocked before Joe Ironside curled another long range effort past the post.

Still it was the visitors that had the neater build up and carried the greater threat in the final third. That was highlighted further as Chadwick drilled one narrowly over from 30 yards approaching the break.

Harriers could have halved their half time deficit in the final moments but Jimmy O'Connor's low shot from Lee Vaughan's cross was cleared off the line by Marty Hill.

The hosts need a reaction in the second half as boss Neil MacFarlane brought on both Joel Taylor and Ed Williams and switched to a back four.

They nearly pulled one back inside a minute but Dan Bradley's powerful drive was brilliantly tipped over by Ollerenshaw.

However, they didn't have to wait long for their first as sub Taylor drilled a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box on 49 minutes.

But, just as they were back in it, their task of finding a leveller suffered a blow as Bradley saw red.

He reacted to a tough tackle in midfield as he squared up to Tomsett. Both men shoved each other away but it was Bradley that received his marching orders after calm was restored.

Ashton were suddenly finding extra space and it took Hall to keep them in it.

He denied both sub John McAtee and skipper Mark Lees with good reaction stops.

The visitors did restore they two goal advantage on 72 minutes when Nic Evangelinos took advantage of a mix-up between Taylor and Hall to slot home.

Harriers continued to press, however, and gave themselves another lifeline when Ash Chambers converted Vaughan's cross of the right on 77 minutes.

The Reds were then kept out as Weeks' free-kick was push away by Ollerenshaw as the clash entered the final 10 minutes.

Ironside saw a goal-bound header hacked off the line as the 10 men were frustrated.

Chambers squandered another opening before Richards pounced late on. He diverted Ironside's initial header beyond the keeper to bag a share of the spoils.

Harriers: Hall, Vaughan, Austin (Taylor 45), O'Connor (c), Horsfall, Johnson (Williams 45), Weeks, Daniels (Richards 73), Ironside, Chambers, Bradley.

Unused subs: Baxendale, Digie.

Ashton United: Ollerenshaw, Lees (c), Regan, Chalmers (Jacobs 89), Hill, Sheridan, Sephton, Anghel (McAtee 53), Evangelinos (Dixon 79), Tomsett, Chadwick.

Unused subs: Roberts, Hobson.

Att: 1,335.