Darlington 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1

A superb stoppage time winner by Stephen Thompson gave Quakers three richly-deserved points against Kidderminster at Blackwell Meadows.

Thommo picked the ball up the right, charged into the box and drove the ball past the keeper at his near post to give him his eighth goal of the season, and give Quakers their first win over Kidderminster in four outings. They also bounced back to winning ways afetr the defeat at Brackley last week.

Quakers showed great character to win, because Kidderminster hit back to level 1-1 and looked as if they might go on and win. However, urged on by the fans, Quakers lifted themselves to go 14th in the table.

The win was also testimony to the strong togetherness amongst the players, none more so amongst a back four that included Jack Vaulks on his debut.

Quakers had a half chance in the first minute. Kidderminster dallied over a Luke Trotman through ball, and Syers got a foot to the ball and tried to find Saunders, but a defender just managed to clear.

Syers then controlled a high ball from Thompson on his chest just inside the corner of the box, but off balance fired high and wide.

Kiddie missed a great chance on 9 minutes. Ngwatala got round the back and set up Waring whose shot was parried by Pears, then Bradley got to the loose ball and pulled it back for McQuilkin to sidefoot wide.

Quakers went in front on 10 minutes. Turnbull’s free kick saw Styche challenge the keeper, and the ball dropped for Heaton whose first shot was blocked, but he reacted quickest and drove the ball past two defenders on the line for his first goal for the club.

Kidderminster nearly levelled on 15 minutes. Pears saved a Declan Weeks free kick at full stretch, and then recovered quickly enough to stop the follow up from Waring.

And another chance came to Kidderminster when Ngwatala got round the back again on the left and set up McQuilkin, who sidefooted wide.

Kidderminster opened up the Darlo defence again on 34 minutes, and Lee Vaughan hit a shot on the turn with his left foot that Pears saved superbly one handed.

But Quakers kept their composure, and stayed in front until half time.

Half time:

Darlington 1 Kidderminster 0

Quakers had a great chance at the start of the second half when Syers burst into the box, but Croasdale just managed to get a tackle in for a corner.

But Kidderminster started to look dangerous again, and Bradley curled a right foot shot into Pears’ hands.

It was nearly 2-0 though when Wheatley got  a touch on a through ball and past Flatt, but a defender cleared off the line.

And Quakers nearly broke through when Turnbull dinked the ball up the left for sub Josh Gillies to pull back for Styche to turn and hit the post with a right foot shot.

But Kidderminster levelled on 77 minutes when a high ball was floated into the box, and the ball dropped for Joe Ironside to head against the post, but he ran in and tapped home the loose ball.

Quakers though missed a great chance to go back in front when Syers got round Flatt and even though he was forced wide, pulled the ball back for Styche who missed his kick from six yards out

Quakers had another chance on the break on 86 minutes when Styche found Gillies, who stepped inside and curled a right foot shot a yard wide.

And Quakers went in front again in stoppage time when Thompson burst into the box on the right, and fired the ball through the keeper's legs at his near post!

Full time:

Darlington 2 Kidderminster 1

Pears, Trotman, Heaton, Vaulks, Galbraith, Turnbull, Wheatley (sub Scott 69), Saunders (sub Gillies 69), Syers, Thompson, Styche

Subs:  Bancroft, Glover, Mills

Booking: Heaton

Kidderminster:

Flatt, Vaughan, Austin, Croasdale, Horsfall, Pearson, Weeks (sub brown 69), McQuilkin (Sub Ironside 60), Waring ((sub Sonupe 60), Ngwatala, Bradley

Subs:  Truslove, Palmer,

Booking: Weeks, Pearson, Horsfall