Harriers hold Hatters in ding dong battle

Kidderminster Harriers 3 (1) Luton Town 3 (0)

A DING dong battle at Aggborough ended with honours even as the Hatters were held to a 3-3 draw by play-off hopefuls Kidderminster in a hugely entertaining contest, writes Mark Wood.

The Harriers had by far the better of the first half, leading at the break through Chris McPhee’s penalty.

But the Hatters were far better after the break, levelling through Robbie Willmott’s thunderous free-kick before taking the lead through substitute Claude Gnakpa’s scintillating strike.

Kidderminster replied through veteran striker Lee Morris but it looked like Town had grabbed victory in the last minute through Jason Walker’s classy finish, only for the Harries to again hit back and grab a point with Mike Williams’ 92nd-minute leveller.

Town made two changes from the team that were held to a disappointing goalless home draw by Barrow on Tuesday. Alex Lawless came back into the centre of midfield after a three game ban at the expense of Paul Carden, while Dan Gleeson replaced Adam Newton at right-back.

A slow opening saw Matthew Barnes-Homer and Willmott threaten on either flank but the Hatters were forced into an early change when Freddie Murray’s troublesome hamstring forced him off and he was replaced by Gnakpa.

Nick Wright got the better of repositioned full-back Jake Howells on 19 minutes but his cross was too strong as both sides struggled to create chances in the sunshine.

Barnes-Homer, against his former club, was just beaten to Lawless’ ball over the top soon after while Keith Keane’s overhit cross whistled just over.

A swerving Gnakpa drive flew well wide on 23 minutes before the Harriers took the lead from the spot moments later.

Matty Blair skipped past the challenge of Zdenek Kroca before tumbling under the outstretched leg of George Pilkington and McPhee calmly stroked the ball past birthday boy Mark Tyler and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Mark Albrighton was the first name into the book for a foul on Pilkington before the Hatters threatened on 28 minutes but Danny Crow’s clever backheel from Gnakpa’s centre was too tame to trouble Daniel Lewis.

Some great combination play from Barnes-Homer and Crow presented the diminutive striker with a sight of goal just after the half hour mark but he could only blast over the bar from 20 yards.

Keane slammed an opportunistic long range effort into the midriff of Lewis on 34 minutes before Kidderminster almost doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Callum Gittings’ corner picked out the unmarked Sean Canham but he could only direct his header just wide.

Barnes-Homer was withdrawn for Walker at the break as Town looked for more of a cutting edge in the second half.

Controversy reigned three minutes in when the Hatters were denied a good penalty shout of their own. A marauding Gnakpa run carried him past several Harriers players before he tumbled under the challenge from Albrighton but nothing was given.

An even clearer shout was then turned down when Walker was virtually wrestled to the floor by Williams on 50 minutes, but again nothing was given.

Town were playing with more freedom and intensity with a sniffing Crow just unable to get on Kroca’s knockdown and Lawless poking wide from a good Walker pass.

And the Hatters grabbed a richly deserved equaliser with a fabulous strike from Willmott. Keith Briggs felled Willmott 25 yards from goal and the former U’s winger let fly with an unstoppable shot that burst the net in front Town’s euphoric away followers.

The Hatters were far more dangerous and went close again just past the hour. A fortuitously awarded corner was whipped in by Willmott and Walker’s flick on found Pilkington lurking at the far post but he could only plant his header just wide.

Harriers finally managed their second shot on target when the ball ran nicely for onrushing full-back Lee Vaughan but he drilled straight at Tyler.

A corner then caused all kinds of problems but thankfully McPhee’s header was straight at Tyler and he grasped the ball at the second attempt.

With the game on a knife-edge Luton almost grabbed a fortuitous second when Willmott’s deep cross almost eluded Lewis, but his touch turned it on to the bar and over.

And with 10 minutes to go Town snatched the lead. Gnakpa latched on to Crow’s clever flick, cut back from the byline, and unleashed a venomous effort that fizzed through a crowd of players on its way into the net.

Walker raced through moments later but failed to connect properly and rolled a tame effort straight at Lewis before Kidderminster grabbed an equaliser with just four minutes to go.

Vaughan’s cross was headed back across the box by Briggs and experienced substitute Morris was lurking to force home his header from close range to level the scores.

A nasty fall worryingly forced Crow off before Town grabbed a third in the last minute of normal time. Willmott’s long pass put Walker away and his ball gave Gnakpa a sight of goal. The Frenchman’s effort was blocked but Walker was on hand to curl into the bottom right-hand corner.

Five minutes of injury time was added and there was still time for more drama. Substitute Jamille Matt made a nuisance of himself in the box and his lay off ran nicely for Williams to slam home.

Both sides went for the jugular in the closing moments, but there neither could find a winner as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Harriers: Daniel Lewis, Lee Vaughan, Mike Williams, Keith Briggs (C), Chris McPhee, Michael Briscoe, Mark Albrighton, Callum Gittings (Lee Morris 75), Nick Wright (Jack Byrne 64), Sean Canham (Jamille Matt 83), Matty Blair. Substitutes not used: Andrew Stevens, Dave Hankin.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Freddie Murray (Claude Gnakpa 15), Keith Keane, George Pilkington (C), Matthew Barnes-Homer (Jason Walker 46), Robbie Willmott, Zdenek Kroca, Alex Lawless, Jake Howells, Danny Crow (Adam Newton 89). Substitutes not used: Luke Graham, Kevin Pilkington.

Bookings: Albrighton 28; Vaughan 84.

Referee: AJ Madley.

Assistant referees: J Waters and G Chapman.

Fourth official: KL Morris.

Attendance: 2,756 (Luton 612).

Star Hatter: Keith Keane. Midfield dynamo is charging up for the play-offs.