Harriers' defensive frailties let them down again as they threw away the lead to lose to two goals from
Darlington's makeshift striker Matt Clarke.
Ian Britton recalled Adie Smith and Sean Parrish after injury with Dean Bennett and Lee Ayres dropping
down to the subs' bench. Harriers had the best of the opening exchanges and began to dominate the
game from an early point. Home keeper Andy Collett was by far the busier of the two keepers, Bo
Henriksen calling him ito action first and then after 20 minutes he tipped a rasping 25 yard Danny Williams
free kick over the bar.
Williams tried his luck from antoher free kick six minutes later but this time his effort went over the
bar. Harriers were creating a string of chances that they just could not convert, after 34 minutes
Sam Shilton crossed from the left for Henriksen who was unable to control the ball properly before it was
cleared and five minutes before he break Andy Bishop ran through the heart of the home defence but shot
just wide.
At the interval Darlington boss Mick Tait changed things around moving Matt Clarke from the centre of the
defence to centre forward but it was Harriers who carried on as before. Five minutes into the half
a short corner on the right was played back to Kenny Coleman, the Irishman mishit his cross but it still
found Henriksen in the penalty area. With his back to goal the Dane flicked the ball up and hit a
volley on the turn into the top corner of the net.
Darlington's tactical switch began to pay off as Clarke headed the equaliser for the home side. David
Hodgson's corner from the right curled in to the far post where Clarke rose unmarked to head in from close
range.
In order to combat the threat of Clarke, Harriers made a double substitution and switched to a flat back
four. Darlington, spurred on by their goal, began to get on top, however, and Stuart Brock was
called upon to save from Ian Clark who had been sent on to replace youngster Richard Offiong. With
time beginning to run out The Quakers took the lead, Clarke and Hodgson combined again, Hodgson crossing
from the byline on the left to the near post where Clarke hit a fierce volley past Brock to win the game.
|