Kidderminster 1 Bristol Rovers 1

Last updated : 03 May 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Kidderminster and Bristol Rovers shared the points in an entertaining end-of-season clash that leaves Harriers in mid-table and the visitors safe from relegation.

Rovers started brightly and came close to opening the scoring after just six minutes, Wayne Carlisle crossed from deep on the right and found a completely unmarked Paul Tait on the edge of the six-yard box but he headed tamely wide.

Stuart Brock struggled with his kicking all afternoon and after 14 minutes one of his clearances almost cost his team dear when it fell at the feet of Lee Hodges but the Rovers man was unable to find the target from 30 yards out.

Harriers got themselves into the game and took the lead a minute later, Andy Bishop did well to hold off the challenge of Ijah Anderson and his low cross from the right found JJ Melligan, making his last appearance in a Kidderminster shirt before returning to Wolves, and he turned the ball in from close range.

The home team gradually took control of the game but they were unable to do much with the possession that they had and it was Rovers who came closest to scoring next.

From a left wing corner Sonny Parker got up well to head the ball but with Brock beaten it hit the crossbar and bounced to safety.

After the interval Kidderminster had the best of the game again. Seven minutes after the restart Sean Flynn's free-kick from the left found the head of Dion Scott who glanced his header just wide of the far post.

Further chances fell to the home team, another Flynn cross from the left found Melligan beyond the far post, but his volley was well saved by Scott Howie in the Rovers goal and shortly afterwards Danny Williams hit a blistering drive from 25 yards that rattled the crossbar and bounced down on the line before being cleared.

Twenty minutes from the end Brock made the save of the game to tip Chris Llewellyn's header over the bar for a corner. Llewellyn took the corner himself and Tait powered in a header from close range to level the scores.

In the closing stages the game petered out tamely with neither team taking control or looking like forcing a winner.

The best chance fell to Kidderminster with four minutes left when Sam Shilton crossed from the left to Dean Bennett at the far post, but he headed wide.