It was once again a tail of two halves at The Shay as FC Halifax Town were forced to come from behind to claim a point against bottom side Kidderminster.
Gurjit Singh opened the scoring in the first half before CJ Hamilton cancelled it out with 25 minutes to play.
A dismal start to proceedings saw Kidderminster go ahead after just 10 minutes, Singh nodding home from close range.
After a strong start to the second half, it was Hamilton who deservedly drew Town level, slotting home from inside the box.
This did, however, come after a number of first-half let offs for the home side, including an Aman Verma goal being ruled out for a foul on James Bolton.
Town, who were in need of a good start against a fellow struggling side, fell behind early on. Singh headed home from close range following an inch-perfect cross from the right by Verma.
Things nearly went from bad to worse just a few minutes later when Verma was denied a goal. He tapped in from just a couple of yards out only for the referee to blow for a foul following a push on Bolton.
Town showed signs of getting back into the first half. Danny Hattersley finally registered their first shot on target after the 30th minute. His header comfortably saved by Alex Palmer.
Town continued to press. Kevin Roberts flashed a brilliant ball across goal but nobody could quite get on the end of it as it narrowly missed everyone.
Less than a minute later Town should have been level. Excellent work on the left from Scott McManus allowed CJ Hamilton to put the ball across goal. Hamza Bencherif met it with his head, six yards from goal but it went over when he really should have buried it.
Just before half-time Jordan Burrow had a go from the edge of the box which went just over the bar, following superb play from Brooks.
These remained Town’s only real openings of the first half, other than a half-chance for David Brooks who blazed the ball over the bar.
Their struggles were summed up by a Matty Glennon kick going straight through to Palmer at the other end.
The second half started brightly for Town, going forward with much more zest and attacking threat.
Just a minute in to the second 45 Hamilton tested the keeper with a shot from the edge of the box.
Half-time substitute Josh MacDonald looked certain to level the scoring after 55 minutes. A super ball forward from the superb David Brooks set Hamilton away. He then found MacDonald in the middle who had time to pick his spot, but he was thwarted by a brilliant save from Palmer.
The Shaymen then had appeals for a penalty waved away on the hour mark as MacDonald went down just inside the box under a challenge but the referee wasn’t interested.
This wasn’t the first time referee, Michael Salisbury, disappointed the home fans, having previously awarded two goal-kicks to Kidderminster that appeared to have come off one of their own men.
With 23 minutes left to play, CJ Hamilton levelled the game for The Shaymen.
After a lovely through ball from MacDonald, Hamilton composed himself before slotting home at the near post showing excellent composure from such a young man.
Town entered the last ten minutes of the game with a flurry of chances. James went close from distance and MacDonald just failed to pick the lock with an excellent burst forward.
Hamilton continued to inspire the home side late on. He made two excellent runs, beating men on both occasions. The first led to him shooting narrowly wide. The second was followed by a superb cutback for Burrow who hit the ball agonisingly wide.
The Harriers did still pose a threat as Kevin Roberts was forced to clear a header off the line from a great corner delivery.
The Shaymen nearly shot themselves in the foot with just a minute of added time to play as Clarke was afforded too much space in the box, he laid the ball off to Andre Wright who, fortunately for Town blasted wide.
However, in the end neither side could get the vital winning goal and it ended a draw, a result that doesn’t do either side too much good.
Man of the match: CJ Hamilton
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