SKIPPER Daryl Burgess saw red as a solid Harriers side held high-flying Stevenage Borough to a goalless draw at Aggborough Stadium this afternoon.

The former Rochdale man was given his marching orders late on after bringing down Borough man Jon Nurse, but the home side stayed solid at the back and throughout to pick up a useful point.

Stevenage were left frustrated almost every surge forward from them was broken down by the defence or at lest denied at the death thanks to useful saves from Daniel Lewis between the sticks who came in for John Danby.

Jake Sedgemore and Luke Reynolds were also restored to the starting line-up after missing time through injuries, and the duo linked up in the early stages as the former Shrewsbury man knocked a long ball up to Reynolds who was running down on goal with pace. Luckily for Borough, their 'keeper Alan Julian was brave and came to greet the ex-Telford man and collected the ball as he shaped to shoot.

With 12 minutes on the clock Lewis surely staked his claim for a permanent first-team berth as he pulled off a sensational save at his far post as Luke Oliver steered a powerful header goalwards from Adam Miller's free-kick.

Reynolds involvement in the game was unfortunately short-lived as Harriers were forced into their first change of the afternoon with 37 minutes gone, with Gareth Sheldon coming on in place of the injured striker.

The hosts almost found a goal from an unlikely source just a minute before the break; on-loan defender Simon Rea powered a header that was hooked off the goal line by Ronnie Henry.

11 minutes after the re-start, Sheldon's hesitancy could have cost him the opening goal of the contest after he struggled to get his shot away as Jon Newby's cross found him in space in front of goal.

Four minutes later and it was Newby who was denied in what was surely the best chance of the game for Harriers. Russ Penn broke from midfield and charged forward, holding the ball up superbly for Newby who took it on, opened up an angle on goal and drilled a fabulous shot that was somehow parried wide by Julian.

George Boyd was lively for the visitors and his volley In the 69th minute would surely have opened the scoring were it not for Rea who bravely stuck his head in the ball's path and very nearly had it removed.

With 72 minutes gone, Harriers were reduced to ten men after Burgess' foul on Nurse. Miller curled the resulting free-kick wide of the wall and also the post, whilst Lewis superbly fisted a high effort from Boyd over the bar just moments later.

It was a case of 'solidity restored' for Harriers this afternoon; Mark Yates' men surely will take confidence from both the result and performance, specifically defensively, with the last two Aggborough results in mind.

The team travel to York City a week tomorrow, the Minstermen were also held to a goalless draw today away at Burton Albion.

Kidderminster Harriers 0-0 Stevenage Borough (HT 0-0)
Aggborough Stadium
Attendance: 1,490 (150 away fans)
Referee: G. Horwood (Beds)

Subs Not Used: Gore, Quinn, Weatherstone, Duffy