Harriers 1 Lewes 1

Dean Bennett's pain was Lewes' gain when Kidderminster missed out on an opening day win for the third season in a row in the Blue Square Premier.

Midfielder Bennett put through his own goal, after striker Justin Richards had given new-look Harriers a 22nd minute lead.

Mark Yates' men created enough chances to have won, but had to be content with a share of the spoils against a hard working Lewes side, who were making their first appearance in non-league's top flight.

They will need to be more ruthless, if they are to pick up maximum points in tomorrow's clash at Cambridge United, who started with a Saturday with a 1-0 win at Northwich Victoria.

Lewes, the bookies favourites for relegation, began nervously and could have few complaints about falling behind, when Richards stabbed the ball home after Mark Creighton had knocked on a cross from Andy Ferrell.

After Harriers' new goalkeeper Adam Bartlett had pulled off an excellent save to deny former Walsall campaigner Michael Standing, the Rooks prospered when Bennett's outstretched leg turned in a cross from Matt Geard.

After the interval Harriers continued to carve out a number of opportunities, with the majority of them falling to Richards who spent the second half of last season on loan at Oxford United.

In the end, it was Lewes' manager Kevin Keehan who was far more satisfied than Yates, who simply said: "We've got to be better and we certainly will be."

Kidderminster: Bartlett; Bowler (Brittain 70), Jones, Creighton, Baker; Penn, Bennett, Ferrell, Russell (Barnes-Homer 56); Knights (McDermott 80), Richards.

Subs not used: Coleman, Riley.