HARRIERS and Birmingham City played out a competitive 1-1 draw in pre-season at Aggborough on Wednesday night.

In an end-to-end, open first half it was Harriers who took the lead on ten minutes as a dangerous James McQuilkin run forced Paul Robinson to force the ball beyond his own goalkeeper under pressure.

Blues levelled through Clayton Donaldson past the half hour mark in match that was the ideal work out for both teams.

After the opener for Harriers, both sides traded chances with Declan Weeks going close for the home side, while David Cotterill forced a good save from Brandon Hall with a rising effort.

Donaldson’s stabbed finish was the ammunition to a mean Keita cross that left Hall with no chance.

The Championship side fielded a strong side that was backed well by a big fan base – and it was in front of them that Cotterill should have put his team back in front on 52 minutes, only for his powerful free-kick to be well met by the palms of Brandon Hall.

An incisive Blues breakaway almost brought a second goal for them six after the hour as Kieftenbeld’s rising shot over the bar went close.

In truth the second half was always given a tall order in terms of being able to match the first for tempo and pace – both teams made a fine fist of it in any case. While premium chances late on were few and far between there was never a let up in the action.