Video: Kidderminster 2 Chester 2

Kidderminster Harriers wasted a golden chance to improve their National League survival hopes by surrendering a 2-0 lead against Chester.

The frustrating deadlock left second-from-bottom Harriers still nine points away from safety,

Kidderminster looked poised for a precious victory when they went ahead on 22 minutes with an Arthur Gnahoua goal which was followed four minutes later by a Harry White penalty.

Chester, managed by former Aggborough boss Steve Burr, stormed back with a disputed 66th-minute spot-kick from Ross Hannah and a super 76th-minute equaliser by James Alabi.

The visitors' penalty, awarded for a foul by Kevin Langmead on Hannah, angered Harriers' chief Colin Gordon, who described the decision as "baffling."

He said: "If that's a penalty, then there are going to be a thousand a week. I thought it was a poor decision. The linesman didn't flag and he was the nearest one to it.

"I just felt in the referee's mind he gave an easy penalty to us in the first half and he evened it up. But that's life.

"It just gave them some impetus to come back and their guy has scored an unbelievable goal to make it 2-2."

Kidderminster, beaten 3-1 at Chester in November, were excellent value for their interval lead following an energetic performance in which tireless midfielder Ben Whitfield was outstanding.

The opening goal was the result of a fine build-up by Ousmane Fane and Whitfield which led to Gnahoua scoring with a well-struck angled shot. It was his third goal in the last four matches.

The hard-working Whitfield was also involved in the second goal when his cross was handled by Ryan Lloyd to enable White to fire home the resultant penalty for his third goal in four games.

Harriers tired in the second half and were pegged back by Hannah's penalty which was followed by a superbly executed goal from substitute Alabi, who netted with a cracking 18-yard shot.

Kidderminster went within a whisker of snatching a dramatic stoppage-time winner when an effort from Tyrone Williams was expertly pushed away by goalkeeper Tony Thompson.

Gordon, whose side travel to Wrexham tomorrow night, admitted his battle-weary troops paid the price for taking their foot off the gas in the second-half, which began with Chester making a couple of substitutions.

He said: "We were very tired and leggy and we were unable to keep the tempo going that we had in the first-half.

"That's to be expected in a young team. You could see it in their legs in the second half, but the fact is that we finished the game strongly."