HARRIERS and old rivals Woking played out an entertaining 0-0 draw at Aggborough on the opening day of the National League season.

Woking – who were the opposition both when Harriers confirmed promotion from this division in 2000 and five years later when the club returned to non league – provided Russ Penn’s men with a stern test of their credentials on day one. The Cards finished fourth last season and will likely be there or thereabouts again this term.

As can often be the case on the opening day of any season, it was more fight than finesse at Aggborough, but both sides had chances to steal all three points.

With a quarter-hour gone, Zak Brown’s well-timed run was almost rewarded with a goal, only for Woking shot-stopper Jaaskelainen to hold his effort from eight yards.

Twelve minutes later, Joe Leesley let fly with an effort that drilled wide of the target on the angle, before Woking’s biggest chance of the half well to Browne who struck off target with a similar effort, only much closer to Dibble’s target.

Five before the interval, Harriers were almost ahead. A good team move saw Oxlade-Chamberlain played in, but he was denied a debut goal when his low shot towards the far post was kept out by a good save.

The next talking points didn’t arrive until near the hour. Jaaskelainen did well to put Brown off when in on goal, only for a follow-up shot to seemingly be kept out by the hand of a Woking player, though appeals went unheard.

After sub McDonagh and Leesley then had half chances, Woking had two clear cut ones – Dibble extending himself to keep out a free kick from the experienced Robbie Willmott, before Cuthbert’s header back across goal bounced wide by a whisker.

Harriers had the final say. McDonagh was again involved, laying the ball off to Hemmings who unleashed a trademark distance effort that swerved up and over Jaaskelainen before dropping on to the bar with a thud.

Harriers might well have just about edged it but, in truth, a draw was probably about right with so little to separate the two sides in what was far from a bore draw.