A FINE advert for Blue Square Premier football in appalling conditions saw Wrexham and Kidderminster share four goals at The Racecourse.

With Mansour Assoumani suspended and Gareth Taylor rested to the bench Dean Saunders was forced into two changes in his starting line up.

After a perfectly observed one minutes silence for George McGowan and on a cold, wet night in North Wales Kidderminster kicked off attacking the Kop end of The Racecourse

and were quickly on top winning a couple of early corners.

With two minutes gone Brian Smikle headed a Danny Andrew free kick just over the bar as

Wrexham's lack of height without Assoumani and Gareth Taylor was evident. In horrible conditions Wrexham with the rain and wind at their backs started to get their passing game going.

On the quarter hour mark Christian Smith brought down Dean Bennett on the edge of the area and Andrew went close with the resultant free kick. With both sides looking to attack at every opportunity it was end to end football.

Wrexham took the lead on 26 minutes when Wes Baynes drilled a free kick, won superbly by Marc Williams, low and hard across the box and Mike Williams forced the ball home from close range.

Marc Williams almost joined his brother on the scoresheet when he forced Coleman into a diving save after good work by Cieslewicz whilst at the other end Maxwell saved well from Matthews and Barnes - Homer blasted the rebound over the bar.

The Red Dragons lead lasted only 6 minutes when Brian Smikle drilled a low shot past Maxwell from 18 yards out giving the young keeper, who only minutes before had saved

well from Barnes - Homer, absolutely no chance.

In an end to end half Coleman had to be quickly off his line to deny Baynes, Wrexham were playing long balls over the top of the Harriers defence causing them all sorts of problems with Marc Williams and Adrian Cieslewicz using their pace to good effect.

On 35 minutes Mike Williams rose unmarked 12 yards out and directed a Wes Baynes corner into the corner of the net to restore the home sides advantage. Again though the visitors bounced back and Maxwell made a fine save from Smikle with Curtis Obeng bravely blocking the rebound effort fromBarnes - Homer.

On 43 minutes another Baynes corner caused havoc in the Kidderminster box but some brave defending on the line kept Smith out and the visitors broke away and after Maxwell had saved well from Matthews Chris McPhee netted the equaliser from close range.

Adrian Cieslewicz forced Coleman into a diving save in the three added minutes but the team went in level at the end of a pulsating first half

Half Time: Wrexham 2 Kidderminster Harriers 2

Wrexham started the second half brightly and Neil Taylor directed a header at Coleman from a Christian Smith cross, the Welsh Under 21 international probably had more time than he thought and could have possibly brought the ball down.

The visitors with the conditions in their favour pressed Wrexham back restricting the Dragons to sporadic breakaways.

Despite their territorial advantage Kidderminster did not create any clear cut chances, indeed, it was Wrexham, through a fine Andy Fleming effort, who almost grabbed the lead when it took a brilliant save from Dean Coleman to deny him.

On 61 minutes, Martin Riley's slip allowed Adrian Cieslewicz to break away, the young Pole rounded Coleman but on his wrong foot put his effort just the wrong side of the post.

Wrexham kept up the pressure and Wes Baynes angled drive was again just wide with Coleman beaten.

Harriers had a chance on 71 minutes, when Smikle headed a Baker free kick just wide of the target. Coleman had to be on his mettle to hold firstly a driven cross by Wes Baynes and then a fierce shot from the same player.

With two minutes left Adrian Cieslewicz glanced a Smith cross just wide of the post and in added time the hard working Marc Williams charged down a poor clearance from Dean Coleman, but typical of the flame haired strikers luck the ball bounced just the wrong side of the post.

Wrexham (4-4-2): Chris Maxwell, Curtis Obeng, Frank Sinclair, Ashley Westwood, Mike Williams, Adrian Cieslewicz, Christian Smith, Andy Fleming, Neil Taylor (Mark Jones 69), Marc Williams, Wes Baynes.
Subs: Gareth Taylor, Nathan Fairhurst, Jamie McCluskey, Matty Wolfenden.

Kidderminster Harriers (4-3-1-2): Dean Coleman, Duane Courtney, Martin Riley, Gavin Caines, Danny Andrew (Lee Baker 58), Dean Bennett, Chris McPhee, Brian Smikle, David McDermott (Daryl Knights 63), Matthew Barnes - Homer (Aaron Farrell 85), Robbie Matthews.
Subs: Nathan Hayward, Jasbir Singh.

Referee: R.Wrigglesworth
Attendance: 2,086
Away: 128

Bookings -
Wrexham: Christian Smith (foul), Andy Fleming (foul)
Kidderminster Harriers: Chris McPhee (dissent)