Express & Star

Kidderminster Harriers 3 Ashton 3 - Report

Ten-man Kidderminster Harriers are still searching for their first National League North win of the season after being held to an exciting 3-3 draw against Ashton United at Aggborough.

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Dan Bradley (Will Kilpatrick Photography)

The newly promoted Robins struck two early goals through Matty Chadwick and Matt Regan before substitute Joel Taylor pulled a goal back shortly after the break.

The visitors, however, made it 3-1 through Nic Evangelinos before Ashley Chambers hit the target to set up a dramatic finale in which sub Kane Richards equalised deep into stoppage time.

Harriers grabbed a point despite having Dan Bradley sent off following a second half bust up with Liam Tomsett.

After starting the season with three draws they will now be hoping to open their victory account when they visit Chester on Tuesday.

Kidderminster, playing a league fixture against Ashton for the first time, were unchanged for the third successive match.

They found themselves a goal behind after only three minutes when Tomsett was allowed to go on an unchallenged run which ended in him knocking the ball through for Chadwick to shoot past goalkeeper Brandon Hall.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 when a splendid 25 yard shot from Regan curled inside the far post.

It was a nightmare start by shell-shocked Harriers who set about trying to repair the damage with a goalbound shot by Chambers which was blocked before a cross from Lee Vaughan nearly ended up dropping into the top corner.

Ashton, however, were always looking to stretch their quick-fire lead and worried the Aggborough rear-guard with a shot on the turn by Tomsett which was not far off target.

Then, shortly after the half hour mark, Chadwick went close with a 30 yard effort which whizzed just over the bar.

Kidderminster defender Fraser Horsfall almost sliced the ball into his own net during the closing stages of the first half which drew to a close with Jimmy O’Connor having an effort cleared off the line by Matty Hill.

Reshuffled Harriers made a couple of substitutions at the start of the second period with Sam Austin and Ryan Johnson making way for Ed Williams and Taylor.

The changes quickly made a rapid impact with Taylor reducing the deficit with a well placed low shot in the 49th minute

It came just 60 seconds after a terrific shot from Bradley had been superbly pushed away by visiting goalkeeper Josh Ollerenshaw.

Harriers were reduced to ten men on 61 minutes when Bradley was sent off after being involved in a middle of the park flair-up with Tomsett who was shown a yellow card.

Ashton made it 3-1 when they capitalised on a mix-up between Hall and Taylor which led to a goal from Evangelinos in the 73rd minute.

Minutes later Harriers reduced the deficit to 3-2 when Vaughan set up a goal for Chambers on 77 minutes before Richards equalised in stoppage time.

Teams

Kidderminster: Hall; O’Connor, Horsfall, Johnson (Williams, 46); Vaughan, Daniels (Richards, 74), Weeks, Bradley, Austin (Taylor 46); Ironside, Chambers. Subs not used: Baxendale, Digie.

Ashton: Ollerenshaw; Lees, Chalmers (Jacobs, 89), Hill, Regan; Sheridan, Sephton, Evangelinos (Dixon, 79), Anghel (McAtee, 53), Tomsett, Chadwick. Subs not used: Roberts, Hobson.

Referee: Aaron Jackson (Liverpool).

Attendance: 1,335 (19 away fans).