Forest Green 2 Kidderminster Harriers 2 FOREST GREEN came from behind twice to hold fellow play-off contenders Kidderminster in a Blue Square Premier Christmas cracker on Boxing Day.

Twice the Aggborough side had taken the lead through Iyseden Christie and Simon Russell, but Harriers were unable to record their first ever win over Forest Green.

The visitors made a bright start. Former Cirencester Town striker James Constable saw an effort fly agonisingly inches wide of the right post in the third minute. But they took the lead in the seventh minute when stand-in skipper Russ Penn was felled just inside the penalty area after a rash Darren Jones challenge.

advertisement Christie slotted the spot-kick into the left hand corner after sending keeper Ryan Robinson the wrong way. Rovers were losing any control in midfield with Penn pulling the strings. Simon Russell made a great chance for himself in the 20th minute when he won the ball and tested Robinson with a rising effort but the hosts produced a slick move to level the scores less than sixty seconds later.

Captain Mark Beesley exchanged passes with top-scorer Stuart Fleetwood to rifle a shot beyond keeper Scott Bevan for his 12th of the season.

Harriers continued to look the more dangerous side and a fired-up Constable saw a shot saved. The striker had a good call for a penalty ignored in the 32nd minute. Robinson spilled Penn's 20-yard shot and Constable was tackled from behind by John Hardiker as he went in for the follow-up, but referee Simon Hooper ignored his claim. Russell stunned the hosts when he put the visitors ahead 45 seconds into the second half. Jones squandered possession for McGrath to dribble down the left, skipped past several challenges and sent in a low ball that the wideman slid in at the far post.

Rovers hit back, with Bevan comfortably saving Fleetwood's header, while Lawless' free-kick flashed wide of the post. However, Mark Yates' side looked dangerous and Penn saw his fierce drive beaten away in the 58th minute. Nonetheless, a defensive lapse allowed Forest Green to level the scores in the 74th minute. Bevan tipped over Paul Stonehouse's rising 30-yard shot, but he was beaten from the resulting Lawless corner that saw Chris Giles rise unchallenged and head in the equaliser. The goal seemed to knock Harriers confidence. An error by Gavin Hurren almost handed Forest Green the lead two minutes later. The defender gave the ball to Beesley in the box and he found Fleetwood, but the hitman's effort hit the post.

Both Hurren and Michael Blackwood were then booked for clashing seconds later.

In a mad ten minute period the visitors also saw Andy Ferrell, Russ Penn and Justin Richards booked.

But Harriers found their composure to keep out Forest Green.

Forest Green: Robinson 6; Lawless 6; TONKIN 8; Jones 6; Giles 7; Beesley 6; Clist 6; Hardiker 6 (Preece, 87); Fleetwood 6; Stonehouse 6 ; Dodgson 7 (Aful, 6, 60).

Star man: Anthony Tonkin.

Harriers: Bevan 6; Hurren 6; Creighton 7; Blackwood 6; Ferrell 6; PENN 8; Bignot 7; Constable 7; Christie 7 (Richards, 70, 6); Russell 7; McGrath 7 (Smikle, 87).

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 2,106.