Brilliant sunshine and scorching heat spoiled the game but Harriers got their League 2 campaign off to a good start with a well-earned draw at Rushden's Nene Park.

Harriers introduced a number of their new players for their debuts in a new-look side; Micky Mellon, Youssou Diop and Frédéric Advice-Desruisseaux all made their first appearances and Chris McHale made his first start; Simon Russell made his debut as a substitute in the latter stages of the game.

Rushden had the first attack of the game and would have taken the lead but for the reflexes of John Danby in the Harriers goal.  David Bell, who was lively all afternoon on the Rushden right, crossed low to the near post where Alex Hay got in a snap shot that Danby kept out with his legs.  Harriers' first good chance of the game came from a corner; Steve Burton took the kick from the left and sent it to the far post where Wayne Hatswell's attempted shot was blocked and the ball rebounded to Burton who hit a first-time shot to the near post where Billy Turley did well to beat it away.

Throughout the first half Harriers' best chances came from set-pieces, a Simon Brown free kick from the edge of the penalty area beat the wall but also beat the crossbar and a Burton free kick was headed over by Hatswell.  The Diamonds had another good chance when a long ball beat the jump of Adrian Viveash and left Kevin Braniff in the clear but he dragged his shot wide of the far post.

The pace of the game dropped more after the break as the players continued to wilt in the heat.  Rushden started the better and Stuart Gray had a good chance with a 25-yard shot that Danby tipped over the bar for a corner.  The same player had another opportunity soon afterwards, his shot deflected off Hatswell and Danby did well to bundle it away at the foot of the post.

Harriers grew stronger as the game wore on and finished the better side.  A good turn by Advice made space for himself and he threaded a pass through into the path of Jesper Christiansen but his shot was blocked for a corner.  Another free kick almost saw Harriers grab the winner, Burton's free kick from the right found Viveash at the far post and his header was cleared off the line by Graham Allen, Hatswell followed up and saw his shot charged down by Robert Gier and Rushded scrambled it away to safety.

In the closing minutes Scott Rickards had a shot from long range that went wide but not by as much as Turley seemed to think it would as he stood casually while the ball whizzed by him.  In the end a draw was a fair result and Harriers maintained their record of not having lost on opening day in the Football League.