Express & Star

Kidderminster’s impressive four-match winning streak ended despite Iyseden Christie scoring for the fifth game in a row.

The on-song striker equalised from the penalty spot after relegation-threatened Altrincham had taken an early lead through hot-shot Colin Little.

Harriers could have few complaints about the result after turning in what frustrated boss Mark Yates described as a “sloppy” display. 

He said: “We were sloppy in the warm-up and we carried that through into the first half. We got a point but it wasn’t a good performance. We didn’t apply ourselves.

 “We should have dealt with their goal and that just summed us up.”

Yates is now hoping his battle-weary troops can get back on the victory trail when they visit another relegation-haunted side, Halifax Town, tomorrow night.

Altrincham, just one point above the drop zone, grabbed the lead after seven minutes when deadly Little drilled in his 20th league goal of the campaign. 

It was no more than the hard working visitors deserved after making a much more positive start to what was hectic Harriers’ sixth game in 15 days.  Although Yates’ troops slowly began to improve as the opening period progressed, it was not until the 45th minute that they were able to get back on level terms.

Midfielder Russ Penn dashed into the area where he was brought down by Ryan Lynch to enable cool-headed Christie to fire in the resultant penalty for his 15th goal of the season. 

Christie was also on target when Harriers suffered a 2-1 defeat against Altrincham at Moss Lane  in January.

His spot-on effort on Saturday, however, failed to provide the springboard for his side to go on to clinch victory in the second half.

By the end of the match they had stacked up 10 corners compared to Altrincham’s none, but the visitors were worthy of sharing the spoils in what was Kidderminster’s fourth home draw in a disappointing league campaign. 

In the dying stages Graham Heathcote’s men almost scrambled in a winner, but Harriers survived to leave them in 11th spot in the table.

Harriers: Coleman; Kenna, Hurren, Creighton, Jeannin; Penn, Bennett, Russell (Smikle, 55, 5); Knights (Ferrell, 71, 6); Barnes-Homer, Christie. Subs not used: Wylde, McGrath, Bignot.

Attendance: 1,535 (143 away fans).