Darlington put in any terrible performance when the big occasion calls for so much more. Pictures by Les Hodge.
Following the important away win a Grimsby the previous weekend Quakers played the first of their Easter fixture. The game had been designated the official reopening of the stadium and how ironic it should be against Kidderminster Harriers, the game the ground was first opened too. Quakers included Akpo Sodje following his loan move from Huddersfield and Ryan Valentine also made the game despite looking doubtful.
Harriers won an early corner kick after two minutes when Beardsley's cross deflected off Brain Close. Quaker replied a few minutes later and on both occasions Sodje was caught narrowly offside as he looked to latch onto balls from St Juste and a flick by Armstrong. Darlington went close after six minutes when St Juste muscled his way to the byline. His near post cross was knocked back by Sodje to Dickman who saw his low shot take a deflection to push it wide of the post. The visiting Harriers were perhaps sharpest out of the blocks and at times Harriers were taking advantage of some sloppy defending. Quakers were more involved especially down the left flank as Jason St Juste showed much menace. Akpo Sodje was adjudged to have fouled John Danby after thirteen minutes as he jumped with the Kidderminster keeper looking to cash in on a Matthew Clarke long ball. The ball did in fact end up in the back of the net but the referee had already blown his whistle. Harriers continued to probe and a ball pulled back from the right flank on twenty nine minutes caused problems as Lee Jenkins saw a shot deflected wide. Kidderminster followed up and won a flurry of corners before Sam Russell eventually took charge and caught. In truth the game had meandered through the first opening forty five and about as exciting as it got was the offside decisions, the last of which to feature Darlington again involved Sodje as Appleby tried to release him with a nice through ball.
Quakers needed to vastly up the tempo in the second half however it was Harriers looking more likely. A dangerous ball from the left lay between Beardsley and Sam Russell, the Quakers keeper manager to claim but only after taking a knock from the outstretched foot of the Kidderminster number seven. Dave Hodgson made his first change of the afternoon as he bought on Craig Russell for Alun Armstrong. Quakers' substitute was quick to get involved as he played a lovely ball out wide to St Juste who controlled only to see his cross cleared. A corner on the hour for the hosts saw the ball eventually fall for Clarke who nodded down for McGurk to blaze over. Shortly afterwards Brian Close smashed a ball over the top for Sodje to run onto however he snatched at it and his meek shot bounced wide. Darlington were finally showing some more urgency and to add a further push Darlington made their two remaining changes available to them, first Webster for Convery and then a few moments late Wainwright for Valentine. Darlington grabbed a fortunate corner with close to fifteen minutes left. Appleby played an inviting ball out to the left for St Juste to run onto. His cross into the middle was headed over by Webster, or so it seemed as the referee awarded a corner kick. Despite the second half improvement Danby was yet to be forced into a save. It was a mistake in midfield by Appleby which broke the deadlock. Appleby, in only his third game since coming back to the club, lost control of the ball and Harriers broke. McGrath got to the edge of the area. The former Aston Villa player played it to Christie whose shot took a deflection off Sam Russell and allowed Keates at the far post to tap home for the lead. Quakers were handed a late lifeline when Jenkins was booked for a second time and sent off. Darlington could have equalised late on when Webster's right wing cross was side footed wide by Sodje as he continued to misfire. Before Quakers could take advantage of the red card a long ball from the back found Rawle who strolled through and side stepped Sam Russell to roll into an empty net.
Darlington were once again second best for when the big occasions call for so much more. Quakers never tested Danby through the ninety minutes and an organised and hard working Kidderminster took full advantage. The first was half was poor and whilst Quakers did show more urgency in the second half they never looked like winning it. At times a draw looked possible but in truth Quakers never deserved even that. The only positive was that with a game in forty eight hours Darlington can say sorry to those fans once again let down and let down badly.
Darlington: Sam Russell, McGurk, Close, Clarke, Valentine (Wainwright 68), Convery (Webster 67), Appleby, Dickman, St Juste, Sodje, Armstrong (Craig Russell 54). Subs: Webster, Gregorio, Fleming, Craig Russell, Wainwright.
Kidderminster: Danby, Jenkins, Mullins, Beardsley (Christie 72 (Jones 90) ), Weaver, Keates, Sturrock (Rawle 45), Hatswell, McGrath, Jackson, Cozic. Subs: Lewis, Jones, Christie, Simon Russell, Rawle.
Darlington bookings: McGurk
Kidderminster bookings: Jenkins (Sent off for two bookable offences)
Goals: Keates 81st min (0-1), Rawle 90th min (0-2)
