Kidderminster Harriers 1 Shrewsbury Town 1

James Collins' late equaliser finally ended Harriers' resistance as Town's perseverance paid off last night.

But they will need to be more clinical come August 9 at AFC Wimbledon.

Reece Styche's first-half opener – after a defensive mistake – gifted Harriers the lead, a goal which Shrewsbury struggled to recover from.

Mellon had wanted a test, at a compact ground where his men would experience life away from the serene surroundings of Greenhous Meadow.

He will be pleased he got one but will not be happy with the lack of imagination from his side.

Liam Lawrence and Andy Robinson had gone close from distance but it needed a cool finish from the returning Collins to ease Shrewsbury level with 18 minutes left.

Lawrence captained the side at Aggborough and he tested Jasbir Singh first from distance after a neat Town move.

Mellon has promised a vibrant, enthusiastic and bright side and there were early signs of what the new-look team would bring.

There was plenty of movement with Robinson finding space without picking out the killer pass.

Both Nat Knight-Percival and Jermaine Grandison were content on the ball at the back despite Kidderminster's terrier-like snapping.

Harriers did start to find openings though and Aman Verma's strike deflected inches wide on 14 minutes before they took the lead four minutes later.

Shrewsbury had been comfortable but Cameron Gayle undid their early work when he miskicked to allow Ahmed Obeng to steal in and when his shot was saved Styche turned in the rebound.

Harriers – who go to Lincoln on August 9 for the Conference opener – grew in confidence.

Leutwiler saved from Gash and Collins and Lawrence shot at Singh but Town had lost their early composure with the hosts unsettling their backline.

It was the test Mellon had wanted through with the unrelenting hosts refused to allow Town time on the ball.

Lawrence's free kick arrowed over 10 minutes before the beak but Shrewsbury had failed to create serious openings.

Their neat build-up play gave false hope as the final ball eluded Town and, in reality, Harriers encountered few first-half problems.

Mellon opted to give the team the chance to redeem themselves, resisting the temptation for substitutes at the break.

Little changed though and while Lawrence pulled the strings – his backheel sending James Caton away – Shrewsbury continued to lack cutting edge.

Robinson's free kick deflected over but it was telling that was as close as Town had come in the second half.

Shrewsbury tried to up the tempo to little avail with Harriers growing increasingly comfortable and Town running out of ideas.

And Chey Dunkley almost settled the game when he powered a free header over from Kevin Nicholson's free kick.

Town responded by throwing on Andy Mangan, Ashley Vincent, Ryan Woods and keeper Callum Burton with 20 minutes remaining

And the change paid off instantly when Woods' deep ball was chested into the path of Collins by Mangan and he calmly rolled past Singh from 10-yards.

The instant rapport between the strikers was needed and Town's persistence must be praised but they must be sharper in League Two.

Harriers' role must not be overlooked as they nullified Shrewsbury for long spells ahead of their own Conference season where they will finally look to earn the promotion which has evaded them for so many seasons.

The goal breathed new life into the visitors and only a last-ditch tackle from Dunkley denied Collins the chance of a quickfire second.

Town finished on top and Collins forced Singh into a fine low save after he latched onto Gayle's cross with three minutes left.