Words John Edwards Pictures Jonathan Moore

Altrincham 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0

Altrincham were held to their first draw of the season as 10-man Kidderminster survived a late onslaught on a night of frustration at The J.Davidson Stadium.

Kidderminster were a man down for the final 25 minutes or so after losing full-back Luey Giles to a second yellow card, and it looked like proving costly as Alty piled on the pressure in the closing stages.

But first Lucas Weaver struck the post when a goal seemed certain and then skipper Tom Crawford headed against the bar as the prospect of a 10th win from 12 games eluded the luckless Robins.

After a low-key opening 10 minutes, the game sprang into life as Alty carved out the first clear-cut chance of the evening.

Sam Taylor latched on to a pass down the left flank and advanced to the bye-line before pulling the ball back to Aidan Barlow, who couldn't quite direct his first-time effort on target.

Kidderminster could count themselves fortunate in the 14th minute when Weaver appeared to be impeded as he was about to surge clear near the edge of the area, only for the referee to wave away the Alty protests.

Not only could it have been a free-kick for the Robins in a dangerous area, there might also have been a red card for the offending Kidderminster defender, and Alty boss Neil Gibson could not hide his frustration in the technical area at the perceived injustice.

Alty were looking the likelier side to find a way through, and they should have taken the lead after quarter-of-an-hour.

Barlow looked up on the right and rolled a pass into the path of Weaver in the middle. It looked perfect for the Robins frontrunner, but his first-time effort was miscued wide.

There had been little to concern the Robins at the other end, though Harry Isted had to be alert to tip a near-post effort round the upright in the 35th minute after Callum Stewart played a one-two and let fly near the left corner of the six-yard box.

The focus was soon back on events unfolding in the Kidderminster area, and Weaver was unlucky in the 38th minute with an expertly-guided header that was bound for the corner of the net until Jack Wint went full length to claw it away.

With Matty Koylo showing some lovely touches in the right-back role he has adapted to so well, Alty were posing a threat down the right as well as the left, but the breakthrough was continuing to prove elusive as the half-time whistle sounded.

Weaver demonstrated the value of lightning pace in the 55th minute as he turned past a close marker on the right of the area and surged clear before blasting an angled drive into the side netting.

At the other end, Max Brogan tested Isted with a crisp low drive from 20 yards that the Robins keeper gathered cleanly as it flew across the turf to him.

Seconds later, Kosylo left no room for doubt that he has mastered the defensive side of his reinvention as a full-back as he flung himself in the way of a goalbound shot from substitute Michael Reindorf. It wasn't just the block that was impressive, it was the way Kossy read the danger and sprinted across the 18-yard line to ensure he was in position to snuff out the danger.

Another chance went begging for the Robins in the 64th minute when Crawford met a low Taylor cross with a first-time snap-shot that drifted narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

Kidderminster were down to 10 men in the 66th minute when left-back Giles cynically blocked off Weaver as he cut inside and paid the penalty in the form of a second yellow card, swiftly followed by a red.

In a chaotic finale, Alty managed to hit the post and bar in the space of one frenetic minute at the start of added time.

First, Weaver crashed a shot against the upright from point-blank range after Kristian Dennis helped on a Taylor cross, then Crawford headed against the bar from a couple of yards out.

Finally, as confirmation it was not to be Alty's night, Barlow had a fierce drive beaten away by Wint as the bombardment continued.

Altrincham Isted; Hinchy (Jones, 83'), Cooper, Khan (Dennis, 68'), Barlow, Kosylo, Taylor, Weaver, Crawford (c), Kirk (Breckin, 17'), Barnes (Lopata-White, 83'). Subs not used: Firth.

Kidderminster Wint; Giles, Harries, MacDonald (Hall, 62'), Brogan, Crompton, Walker, Hargreaves, Davis (c), Stewart (Tipton, 67'), Devine (Reindorf, 29'). Subs not used: Bishop, Minaker, Francis.

HT 0-0

Goals None | None

Yellows Kosylo 24', Khan 40', Taylor 71' | Hargreaves 22', Giles 47', 66'

Reds None | Giles 66'

Attendance 1,776 (212 away)

Referee Jamie O'Connor

Next Up

It's our second home game of the week this Saturday with Carlisle United the visitors to the J.Davidson Stadium.

Get your tickets here, ClubAlty 1891 here and Robins Nest here.