ADAM Hinshelwood earned his first point as York City manager with a goalless draw at Kidderminster Harriers.

It proved to be an end-to-end encounter at the Aggborough Stadium, with both boxes seeing plenty of action but little quality in a game that seemed a relegation battle in every sense.

But with both sides in need of a crucial three points to move themselves closer towards Vanarama National League safety, they were both left wanting as the spoils were shared in Worcestershire.

Kidderminster will likely be feeling the more aggrieved, having seen the better of the chances in front of goal, but City produced a resolute defensive performance that Hinshelwood will hope that they can build upon ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Altrincham.

The Minstermen remain in 22nd position in their bid to avoid the drop, with the gap between themselves and safety three points after Dorking Wanderers were handed a 4-2 defeat by Maidenhead.

Hinshelwood made just one change to the side that lost to AFC Fylde in midweek, with Quevin Castro handed his first City minutes since coming on as a substitute in their 1-1 draw with Halifax Town in late October.

He replaced Finlay Barnes, who dropped out of the squad completely, whilst new signing Leone Gravata was named on the bench following his permanent move from Eastbourne Borough yesterday.

That saw City line up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Castro and Billy Chadwick playing behind Dipo Akinyemi and Will Davies.

Phil Brown, whose appointment has brought with it an upturn of results, named a squad including former Minsterman Amari Morgan-Smith - who netted the winner for the Harriers at the LNER Community Stadium in August - whilst well-travelled forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was an unused substitute.

Kidderminster saw the first chance of the match come their way with three minutes played after both Ryan Fallowfield and Alex Woodyard were brushed off too easily, but Cole Kpekawa blasted his shot well over the bar.

Chadwick then teed up Dan Batty to fire City’s first effort goalwards from the edge of the box, but he could not arrow his strike through a sea of bodies.

Smith was shown the game’s first caution shortly before the 10-minute mark after fouling Kpekawa inside the centre circle, but Christian Dibble’s free-kick flew over everyone in the box and out of play in what became a hallmark of the first half.

The hosts continued to see the better of the attacking play, with City left breathing a sigh of relief at not having conceded a penalty when referee Sam Mulhall ruled Ashley Hemmings had been brought down a whisker outside the box after rounding Will Smith.

Hemmings fired goalwards from the resultant free-kick but watched on as his right-wing effort curled narrowly the wrong side of the post.

York looked to have been dealt an injury blow when Davies was left requiring treatment after a tackle inside the box, but he was able to continue.

Kidderminster saw a glorious chance pass them by as Jack Lambert’s cross-field switch found Caleb Richards, but he could only fire onto the roof of George Sykes-Kenworthy’s net from a tight angle.

Akinyemi’s tame header then rolled wide as City carved out a rare attack, but they were instead soon indebted to Callum Howe for an outstanding defensive block as Morgan-Smith looked to pull the trigger inside the box 10 minutes before the break.

Both Akinyemi and Chadwick were denied as they looked to put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time, but with neither goalkeeper really tested, the sides remained locked at the break.

Kidderminster came out well after the restart, with Smith alert to concede a throw-in from a blistering right-wing attack from the kick-off.

Zak Brown then won a corner after seeing his cross blocked by Fallowfield, but Sykes-Kenworthy was quick off his line to claim.

City also had an added impetus, with Fallowfield and Castro linking up well on the left wing, but neither the right-back nor Chadwick could fire through a sea of bodies in the box.

However, overhit crosses and a lack of quality inside the box became the story of a second half in which neither side could capitalise on their chances.

Fallowfield headed away a right-wing cross aimed at Morgan-Smith, before Sykes-Kenworthy was left scrambling from a follow-up effort, but Akinyemi was able to head away a tame corner with ease.

Dibble made his first save of the afternoon with 67 minutes played after Batty was afforded time and space on the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s shot was comfortable for the Harriers’ keeper.

Gravata was introduced in place of Chadwick in the aftermath, but seemed a little off the pace as he was given his first run-out alongside his new teammates.

City cleared an attempted flick-on by lively substitute Todd Miller, but were left in no man’s land three minutes later when the midfielder played a neat one-two with Reagan Griffiths, who could only blaze over the bar from close range.

Sykes-Kenworthy’s resultant goal-kick set Akinyemi into acres of space on the left wing, but the onrushing Castro could not quite get ahead of his marker to meet the ball squared to him as he reached the penalty spot.

A similar move saw Akinyemi then win City a corner, but Howe was unable to connect cleanly with Batty’s delivery, instead conceding a free-kick.

But Kidderminster remained the more likely to seal a precious three points, with the Minstermen’s scramble defence brought to the fore in a final 15 minutes in which they were firmly under the cosh.

Caleb Richards somehow volleyed high and wide after being found on the left wing, before Miller drew Sykes-Kenworthy into a comfortable save from a long-range strike.

It took a stunning block from Howe to prevent Morgan-Smith from what seemed like a late winner, with the goal at his mercy from a rapid counter-attack with seven minutes left to play.

And the hosts wasted another golden chance in the dying seconds when Hemmings and Morgan-Smith were released two-on-one, but the latter could only fire a tame effort straight into Sykes-Kenworthy’s hands.

Akinyemi then teed up Gravata as City looked for their own late winner, but the winger sliced the ball narrowly wide.

Nonetheless, a resolute defensive performance from the Minstermen, and a first point and clean sheet under new boss Hinshelwood ahead of Tuesday evening’s trip to Altrincham (7:45pm).

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS: Dibble, Richards, Pearce, McNally, Hemmings, Lambert (Miller 62), Brown, Bellis (Omotayo 56). Kpekawa, Griffiths.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Hesketh, Emmanuel-Thomas.

YORK CITY: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fallowfield, McLaughlin, Davies, Akinyemi, Castro (John-Lewis 79), Howe, Batty (Duckworth 86), Chadwick (Gravata 68), Woodyard.

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES: Hunt, Watson.

YELLOW CARDS: Davies (8), McLaughlin (13) Chadwick (54), Woodyard (64)

HALF TIME: 0-0

ATTENDANCE: 3,521 (331)

YORK’S STAR MAN: Callum Howe. An outstanding shift from the centre-back, who put his body on the line to deny Kidderminster a crucial three points.

REFEREE: Sam Mulhall