GREAT HARWOOD 2 KIDSGROVE 3 KIDSGROVE didn't turn up until 15 minutes before kick off -- but the match was delayed anyway because the referee hadn't turned up either!

The NWCL Division One game was due to kick off early, at 1pm, at Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground but Great Harwood officials had forgotten to notify the referee.

So the game eventually went ahead at 2pm -- giving the visitors some time to settle despite turning up late.

In the third game in as many weeks between these two sides it was Kidsgrove who drew first blood after just two minutes.

But after a quarter of an hour Harwood were back in it when Warren Peake headed in a Steve Pickup free kick.

Paul Walker and Richard Fogarty had chances to put Denis Underwood's side into the lead in the first half but to no avail. Just five minutes into the second half, the home side took a deserved lead through Andy Taylor.

Kidsgrove changed formation and got the equaliser just five minutes later.

And on 65 the visitors took the lead.

Underwood changed the side around, throwing three up front in a bid to get at least a point.

Shaun Bursnell had a chance and Chris Lightbowne had a couple of efforts cleared off the line.

Richard Fogarty had a penalty appeal turned down and Harwood couldn't find a way through.

But Underwood is still confident of avoiding the drop.

He said: "Luckily all the other team down the bottom lost too so we didn;t gain anything but we didn't lose anything either."

"The Kidsgrove manager said the the three games they played against us have been the toughest for months but we are not getting the luck."