Report: Harriers earn pre-season draw with Bristol Rovers

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers continued their pre-season programme with a draw against League One side Bristol Rovers.

Ash Chambers netted to give Harriers a deserved lead at the break before Tom Nichols equalised for the visitors early in the second half.

Harriers started brightly and were soon zipping the ball around on a slick Aggborough pitch.

The hosts looked confident on the ball as they played some neat one-touch build up play.

They also nearly found an early breakthrough but Ed Williams’ dipping free-kick on six minutes rattled the angle of bar and post.

Ash Chambers curled wide on 11 minutes before Williams forced Rovers’ keeper Anssi Jaakkola to gather another effort as the contest reached the 20th-minute mark as the home side dominated chances created.

Jaakkola then kept the scores level as he got out well to smother Milan Butterfield’s shot after the midfielder had been played in by Chambers.

Harriers did find the breakthrough on 35 minutes as Chambers coolly slotted beyond Jaakkola after Sam Austin’s reverse ball found the forward’s well-timed run into the box.

Bristol took just five minutes to find a leveller in the second half as Tom Nichols glanced home Luca Hoole’s right-wing cross.

Harriers were almost back ahead three minutes later but again Chambers was denied by Jaakkola after Declan Weeks’ through ball.

Goalscorer Nichols was then denied by the feet of Harriers’ trialist keeper just past the hour mark as the visitors started to find more space in the final third.

He then saved well from Tyler Smith on 65 minutes as the game opened up approaching the final 20 minutes.

It was Rovers that enjoyed the better of things late on as Deon Moore turned a low cross from the left against the post and Alex Rodman headed against the bar.

The clash proved another good workout as new boss John Pemberton looks to put his stamp on the side.

Those early moments and confident build-up will give him plenty to be pleased about ahead of the next pre-season friendly against Stourport Swifts on Tuesday night.