Venue: Aggborough Date: 21-01-25 Harriers 0 Darlington FC 1 Att: 2011 (away fans: 58) |
Lethargic Harriers fail at home again
Report: Kidderminster Shuttle
Cedric Main netted the only goal of the game during the second half to condemn Harriers to a defeat similar in many respects to the 1-0 reverse at the hands of struggling Rushall Olympic earlier this month.
Though just a third defeat in 17 league matches, the set-back left a 2,000 Aggborough crowd frustrated as Phil Brown’s men spurned a big chance to extend their lead at the top of National League North to as much as four points.
In the end, the deficit was reduced to just goal difference thanks to Chester’s late win at Spennymoor Town that moved them into second place.
Harriers had kept faith with the side that had downed Warrington Town last time out and faced Darlington with an unchanged starting eleven, though there was a welcome return from injury on the bench for Kam Kandola.
A sparse first half an hour saw little between the two sides, Harriers’ first real chance of the night coming on 34 minutes when Reece Devine powered an effort towards goal that shot-stopper Pete Jameson spilled, an offside flag thwarting Ashley Hemmings’ attempts to follow-up the loose ball.
HT: 0 – 0
Sunderland loanee Caden Kelly spurned a major chance for the visitors not long after the restart when his far-post effort ballooned over the stand when working the goalkeeper almost seemed an easier outcome.
Harriers then produced their best chances of the evening around the hour mark. Ryley Reynolds saw a curling effort deflected shy of the target before Zak Brown flicked wide from a Hemmings free kick – Hemmings then going close himself with a downward header that drifted wide from a Devine cross.
That proved to be Aggborough top scorer’s final involvement of the night and, it seemed, his side’s attacking rhythm went with him, Darlington then moving into the ascendancy and finding the opening goal with just 13 minutes left to play. Cedric Main beat the offside trap inside the Harriers half and, taking the ball down to the compose himself, did well to finish through a crowd of back-tracking bodies.
Harriers did introduce Seb Thompson to try and muster a response but, on 85 minutes, it was actually Darlington, through Kelly, who came closest to another goal as his unmarked header looped up and on to the top of Dibble’s net.
In added time, there was at last a meaningful save for Jameson to make as he superbly tipped Paul Downing’s header wide at the foot of the post as Harriers pushed from a corner.
Brown must dust his side off and send them into battle at Oxford City this Saturday in a bid to ensure they remain in National League North’s pole position.
FT: 0 – 1
Goal for Darlington: Main 77
The Harriers Online MotM is: Paul Downing
Talk about the game here
Latest table and stats here
Harriers | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
Dibble | ||||
Foulkes | ![]() |
79 | ||
Devine | ||||
Richards | ||||
Downing | ||||
McNally | ||||
Brown | ||||
Reynolds | ![]() |
67 | ![]() |
|
Morgan-Smith | ||||
Hemmings | ![]() |
60 | ||
Kouhyar | ![]() |
|||
Subs: | ||||
Palmer | ||||
Thompson | ![]() |
79 | ||
Obadeyi | ![]() |
60 | ||
Davis | ![]() |
67 | ![]() |
|
Kandola | ||||
Darlington FC | Goals | Subs | Time | Cards |
Jameson | ||||
Hedley | ![]() |
|||
Barrow | ||||
Platt | ||||
Lees | ||||
Forbes | ||||
Hatfield | ||||
Main | ![]() |
![]() |
||
Rivers | ||||
Flint | ||||
Kelly | ![]() |
|||
Subs: | ||||
McGrath | ||||
Cornish | ||||
Nelson | ||||
Maskell | ||||
Salkeld | ||||
Referee: | ||||
Mr Jonathon Maskrey | ||||
Stoke on Trent |