Kidderminster Harriers 2 Leamington 2 - Report and pictures
Kidderminster Harriers had to settle for a 2-2 draw in their opening National League North clash against Leamington at Aggborough.
The Brakes took the lead with a first half penalty by Josh March before Harriers got themselves in front with neatly taken goals from Ashley Chambers and Ed Williams.
The battling visitors, however, snatched a share of the spoils with a late goal from substitute Kaiman Anderson.
It came a few minutes after his side had been reduced to ten men after captain Jack Edwards had been sent off.
Kidderminster, playing their first competitive match since appointing John Pemberton as manager in late May, included summer captures Rhys Williams, Cam Gregory, Correy Davidson, Alex Prosser and newly appointed captain Cliff Moyo in their starting line-up.
Another acquisition, Stourbridge-born striker Richard Peniket, came on during the second half after he was named among the substitutes.
New–look Harriers, who lost 2-1 at home to Leamington last season, began by gaining ample possession, but both sides were unable to muster any on-target efforts until the 13th minute when Aggborough front-runner Chambers, after being fed by Davidson, unleashed a rising right foot shot which was safely dealt with by visiting goalkeeper Jake Weaver.
The Brakes responded with a promising attack which led to Junior English having a powerful drive blocked in front of goal by Ryan Johnson.
Harriers soon battled their way back up field and a cross by Moyo found Milan Butterfield whose high mis-hit shot eventually went out for an productive corner taken by Declan Weeks.
Shortly afterwards Davidson pulled the trigger on a fierce 25 yard drive which whistled narrowly wide of the post.
But it was Leamington who finally broke the deadlock with a soft penalty in the 41st minute when March was adjudged to have been pushed down inside the area by Moyo.
Cool headed March picked himself up and confidently sent goalkeeper Gregory the wrong way from the spot.
It was a bitter blow for Harriers who began the second period with an awkward cross from Moyo which was punched away by Weaver before Davidson blasted the loose ball high and wide.
Butterfield then tried his luck with a powerful drive which was deflected just wide for a fruitless corner. A few minutes later he had a close range header fizz narrowly off target.
Harriers finally got back on level terms in the 59th minute when a blistering 20 yard drive by Alex Prosser beat diving Weaver and rebounded off the bar to enable Chambers to nod home from close range.
They edged in front on 71 minutes when a Weeks corner was headed into the air by Johnson before it dropped for Williams to jump up and nod into the net.
Things got worse for the visitors when they had Edwards sent off for a rash challenge on Moyo in the 82nd minute.
They refused to be unsettled, however, and grabbed their equaliser on 86 minutes when English set up the chance for Anderson to sweep the ball into the net from close range.
Teams
Kidderminster: Gregory; Moyo, R. Williams, Johnson; Austin, Prosser (Peniket, 65), Butterfield, Weeks, Davidson; E. Williams, Chambers. Subs not used: Palmer, O’Connor, Higginson, Scott.
Leamington: Weaver; English, Mace, Lane, Gudger; Gittings (Mussa, 77), Clarke; Murphy, Edwards, Keane (Anderson, 63); March (Shamsi, 80). Subs not used: King, Hood.
Referee: Kristian Silcock.
Attendance: 1,551 (107 away fans)
