KIDDERMINSTER admitted they got punished for failing to take their chances as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Gateshead.
Harriers seemed set for the perfect response to the blow of being docked five points for a breach of financial regulations at a Conference hearing last week.
Goals from Nick Wright and Matty Blair put them 2-1 ahead in the north-east and they created further chances, only to concede again in the final 15 minutes.
Assistant boss Gary Whild said: “We had a couple of chances but when there is only one goal in it the opposition have always got a chance and, in the end, they probably deserved the goal.
“Again, the effort was there and with what has happened this week we were determined not to get beaten.”
Gateshead led through Michael Liddle on 16 minutes but Blair levelled with a stinging shot six minutes later following Chris McPhee’s pass.
McPhee was again the creator for Wright to finish his far-post cross to give Harriers the lead two minutes later but Jon Shaw headed the equaliser on 73 minutes.
Tom Marshall’s goal was too little, too late as Tamworth fell to a 2-1 defeat at Hayes & Yeading.
The Lambs paid the price for two defensive lapses as the London side took control.
The visitors failed to clear a throw-in on 39 minutes and Elliot Buchanan had time and space to send a curling effort into the top corner past keeper Ross Atkins.
Buchanan doubled the lead on 58 minutes, applying the finishing touch after Adam Green skipped past defender Richard Tait.
Daniel Bradley hit the post as the Lambs fought back and defender Marshall netted in stoppage time.
n Redditch United were left heartbroken after conceding two goals in injury time to suffer a 3-2 defeat to Hinckley United in the Blue Square Bet North.
Despite playing for an hour with ten men and having a forward in goal at the Valley Stadium, bottom-of-the-table Reds seemed poised for a priceless victory when they led 2-0.
Redditch had suffered a blow on the half-hour mark when keeper Jimmy Dormand was red-carded for handling outside the area.
With Dean Coleman having moved to Worcester City on Friday, the Reds had no substitute keeper so striker Jemiah Richards pulled on the No.1 shirt.
But Matt Smith gave the hosts the lead on 52 minutes. Seven minutes later, Smith notched a second, from a cross by Josh Quaynor.
Hinckley, however, were not finished and Dan Newton headed home on 64 minutes.
Then sub Ben Fairclough levelled on 90 minutes before Gavin Strachan produced a free-kick winner in stoppage time.
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