Harriers 2
Ebbsfleet 2

Brian Smikle ensured Harriers' unbeaten run was stretched to nine games as they came from behind to draw with Ebbsfleet on Tuesday night.

This was two points dropped by the Blue Square Premier's in-form team as Harriers created more than enough chances in the first half to win the game.

While they remain unbeaten in 2010, this result doesn't enhance their slim hopes of making the play-offs.

Manager Steve Burr accepted his manager of the month award before the game but any worries that his side may fall foul of the curse seemed to be wiped away in the fifth minute, when Darryl Knights opened the scoring.

The diminutive hitman had only scored one league goal for 18 months but bagged his second successive in games when he met Brian Smikle's cross at the near post with a neat downward header.

Robbie Matthews could have doubled the lead minutes later when he sprinted free but shot meekly at keeper Lance Cronin.

Ebbsfleet were struggling to get into the game but midfielder Alex Stavrinou stung keeper Ross Akins' palms with a low 20-yard effort.

But Harriers continued to boss the game and Smikle tested Cronin after a typically slick move.

The lively Knights was denied a goal-scoring opportunity by Jordan Colins' well-time challenge in the box.

The game changed in the space of a minute. Smikle could have made it 2-0 to Harriers in the 35th minute but was a fraction to slow to meet Lee Baker's raking cross.

Seconds later Peter Holmes crossed from the right and striker Moses Ashikodi did well to smash a spectacular right-foot volley past Atkins.

Smikle spurned a golden chance to fire Harriers ahead in the 45th minute. Knights pounced on Collins' mis-control and whipped in a right-wring cross but the midfielder headed wide.

The away side more than competed with Harriers early in the second half but the hosts still probed for a second goal.

Burr rang the changes on the hour mark, taking off Finnigan for Marc Goodfellow, while on-loan Scunthorpe hitman Adam Boyes replaced Matthews to make his Harriers debut.

Atkins dealt comfortably with a clever lob by winger Ricky Shakes, who had spotted the shot-stopper off his line.

But Harriers found themselves trailing in the 70th minute when substitute Scott Ginty was given the time and space to lash a 20-yard shot to the right of a diving Atkins.

Smikle levelled the scores in the 77th minute to set up a grandstand end to the game. The hitman raced onto Boyes' header 20-yards out and rounded Cronin to bag his 12th goal of the season and his fourth in successive matches.

Chris McPhee then turned smartly but Cronin did well to dive to his left-hand post and make the save.

Burr was getting increasingly agitated with Ebbsfleet's time wasting tactics and had a heated argumment with Fleet boss Liam Daish. Late on Cronin was shown a yellow card for time wasting.

Harriers could have won the game with two chances at the death but gritty Ebbsfleet held on.

Boyes thought he had won the match after Cronin had spilled Goodfellow's shot but it was cleared off the line by Stefan Bailey.

Seconds later McPhee rose well to meet a corner and head it goalwards only for Cronin to be in the right place to smother the ball.

Harriers: Atkins; Courtney; Baker; Finnigan (Goodfellow, 60); Caines; Riley; McPhee; Bennett; Knights; Smikle; Matthews (Boyes, 62).

Unused substitutes: Singh; Sharpe; Bignot.

Ebbsfleet: Cronin; Collins; Pooley; Vieira (Ginty, 18); Ashikodi; Stavrinou (Heeroo, 76); Shakes; Crooks (Salmon, 46); Bailey; Charles; Holmes.

Unused substitute: Welsh; Wills.

Referee: Bobby Madley (W Yorkshire). Attendance: 1,163 (20)