KIDDERMINSTER may have failed to find the net during only their second scoreless stalemate of the season at The Shay on Saturday.

But Mark Yates is well on his way to achieving his first goal with a heartening Harriers display which builds on the new boss's solid start.

Stopping the rot and creating a feel-good factor were his primary objectives when he swept into Aggborough a month ago.

And holding high-flying Halifax to a draw and being unlucky not to leave Yorkshire with even more was the latest encouraging sign of the Yates revolution.

The Shay has become something of a fortress for Chris Wilder's promotion-chasers with an unbeaten home record that stretches back to the beginning of this Conference campaign.

But Kidderminster came as close as anyone to ending Halifax's proud run in front of their own fans with a performance bristling with passion and purpose.

All the pre-match talk surrounded the sales of Mark Jackson and Iyseden Christie to Rochdale and whether Harriers could cope without their skipper and their top scorer.

But they made light of those losses as new arrivals Jake Sedgemore, Andy White and substitute Paul Smith made promising debuts, even though Watford loanee Junior Osborne was sidelined by a training ground injury.

Sedgemore seemed as though he could be in for a testing time early on when the Shaymen - and in particular lively left winger Justin Bowler - came out with all guns blazing.

But after coming up against Manchester United's Kieran Richardson during Burton's FA Cup adventure a fortnight ago Sedgemore was able to quieten Bowler as he and Halifax soon faded.

Andy White did a passable impression of Iyseden Christie in the number nine shirt, holding the ball up well as Harriers more than held their own.

The temporary targetman was unable to threaten in the dangerzone, however, as a shortage of service and lack of match fitness made him a peripheral figure.

It was the introduction of Smith though that really gave Harriers fresh impetus.

Smith has done a Mike Marsh and dropped down to the Conference because of an injury insurance pay-out preventing him from playing in the Football League.

But the former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder looked as fit as a fiddle as he burst into the action and tested debutant keeper Jon Kennedy with his first touch.

Johnny Mullins and Daryl Burgess formed an impenetrable partnership at the heart of Harriers' defence, getting their just reward with a deserved clean sheet.

The shut-out was also testament to the improved form of John Danby, whose handling was impeccable throughout.

The Kidderminster keeper showed great concentration to tip a John Grant effort around the post as Halifax started the second half brightly with Tyrone Thompson and Adam Quinn both shanking good chances wide.

It took until the closing stages for the game to really open up with two scorable chances for each side in the last five minutes.

Harriers were given an almighty let-off when Danby instinctively pawed away Neil Midgley's shot from point blank range with Danny Forrest wastefully screwing wide the rebound and Midgley wasting another late opportunity.

Having survived those scares, Harriers, who had previously threatened with long range efforts from Gareth Sheldon and Simon Russell, could have nicked all three points during a grandstand finish.

Smith almost capped his cameo with a super strike which Kennedy just about scrambled away, while Russ Penn sent a low shot agonisingly wide of the post in the dying seconds.