Non-League Day: Bradford Park Avenue 1 Kidderminster Harriers 1 - Report
Kidderminster Harriers maintained their run of good form with a hard earned point at high flying Bradford Park Avenue, themselves having lost just once in the last eight league fixtures.
The home side have started the campaign well and showed early promise as Harriers, who included former Walsall defender Jimmy O’Connor in their starting line-up and Andre Wright in attack for the injured duo James Pearson and Andre Brown, held a firm rear-guard action.
The Horsfall Stadium pitch proved difficulties for both sides as the uneven bounce caught a number of players out from both sides and, with the respective teams’ strengths being a passing game, play became scrappy in an even first half.
Steven Drench pulled off blocks to keep out efforts from James McQuilkin and Joe Ironside as Harriers tried to net an early advantage.
Mani Sonupe then pulled clear of his marker to race into the area only to see his low drive scrape the post as it flew across the face of Drench’s goal.
The home side responded, Ryan Toulson’s deliveries from the right posed problems and seven minutes before the interval Toulson delivered again and Adam Nowakowski ghosted in behind the defence to steer the ball back across Brandon Hall to give the home side the lead.
Harriers responded almost immediately, on the stroke of half-time, Andre Wright pulled clear and his precision pass sent Ironside into the area and the Harriers striker squared for Mani Sonupe to slide home his sixth goal of the campaign.
The second half was equally competitive, Ironside went close with a header, Elton Ngwatala struck the woodwork with a shot from the edge of the box as the visitors pushed forward.
Ironside should have finished off a cross from Joel Taylor but he could only direct his header into the midrift of keeper Drench.
Nowakowski volleyed wide as Bradford sensed they might convert an opportunity before Adam Boyes sent a header over and in the closing stages Luca Havern directed Nicky Bushell’s right wing corner wide of the target to ensure the sides finished level.
Teams
Bradford : Drench, Ross, Kelly, Wroe, Havern, Toulson, Clee (Brooksby76), Nowakowski, Boyes, Johnson (Boshell N 90), . Subs Not Used: Boshell.D, Hall, Knowles.
Harriers: Hall, Williams (Digie 53), Horsfall, O’Connor, Taylor, Croasdale, Ngwatala , Ironside, Sonupe (Austin 78), McQuilkin, Wright. Subs Not Used: Weeks, Finch, Osbourne.
