Kidderminster Harriers 1 Darlington 1 - Report

Jimmy Shan’s men pocketed a precious point thanks to a smartly taken equaliser from Alex Prosser after the Quakers had taken the lead through Will Hatfield.

The deadlock, however, means that Harriers have not won a home game since Boxing Day when they triumphed 3-1 over Hereford FC.

It also dashed their hopes of securing back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

Kidderminster, who lost 1-0 at Darlington in late October, were forced to make one change from the side which pulled off a shock 2-0 win at high-flying King’s Lynn Town the previous Saturday.

Young striker Austin Samuels, on loan from Wolves until the end of the season, was ruled out due to a short term groin injury with Ed Williams being drafted into the starting line-up.

Darlington forced a corner inside the opening minute but Jarrett Rivers’ high flag kick was safely cleared by the Aggborough rear-guard.

Harriers, however, steadily began to construct a number of promising attacks with Prosser having a trio of goalscoring efforts around the quarter of an hour mark.

The first he fired wide from distance and the second was blocked by goalkeeper Liam Connell, who then produced a splendid save to again thwart the lively Harriers midfielder.

The hosts kept up the pressure and Milan Butterfield was not far off target with a curled shot from 22 yards before Connell was called on to stretch high while under pressure to cut out a threatening corner kick by Ashley Hemmings.

Darlington forced a corner of their own shortly afterwards, but Rivers’ kick was headed away from the danger area by Keith Lowe.

The first half came to a close with Harriers’ leading marksman Ashley Chambers shooting wide with a speculative shot from 18 yards.

Harriers had a great chance to score in the opening minutes of the second half when a terrific defence splitting pass from Hemmings found Sam Austin who unselfishly knocked the ball to Ed Williams who got his feet in a tangle and wasted the opportunity to make the most of an open goal.

Soon after Hemmings hoisted the ball over the bar from just inside the penalty area before Darlington forced a corner which proved fruitless.

The Quakers finally broke the deadlock on 57 minutes when Hatfield scored with a cracking 25 yard shot which dipped just under the bar.

Stunned Kidderminster, however, equalised three minutes later when Prosser netted with a sweetly struck volley from the edge of the area.

They a great opportunity to grab a winner in the dying minutes when substitute Correy Davidson shot straight at Connell who saved with his legs.

Teams

Kidderminster: Mannion; Moyo, R. Williams, Lowe (Davidson, 70), Johnson, Austin; Butterfield, Prosser, Hemmings, E. Williams (Freemantle, 58); Chambers. Subs not used: Palmer, Shenton, Digie, Davidson.

Darlington: Connell; Hedley, Laing, Galbraith, Watson; Wheatley, Hatfield, Reid (Holness, 73), Thompson (Donawa, 68), Rivers, Campbell. Subs not used: Elliott, Storey, Atkinson.

Referee: Michael Barlow.

Attendance: 1,509 (161 away fans).