It was a bad afternoon for Parfait Medou-Otye when he was sent off here today for appearing to stamp on Darlington striker Barry Conlon.

Parfait had already given away a penalty a few minutes earlier when he had fouled the same player and Mark Ford had sent Brockie the wrong way for the opening goal.

So what started out as a game that Jan Molby thought we could come home with a point from, ended up much like many of the away games last season, a messy collapse.

For most of the first half the Harriers did well to contain the threat from Darlingtons new signing from Sunderland, Neil Wainwright, and their other recent new boy's Barry Conlon and Neil Maddison.
They were being kept out by timely tackles from Parfait and Smithy but still got a couple of shots in which were easily saved by Stuart Brock.

It took until the 28th minute for the Reds to muster their first attempt on goal but the shot from Tony Bird went harmlessly out for a goal kick.

Five minutes before half time Adie Smith came to the rescue when he cleared a goalbound effort from Mellanby off the line.

HT. 0-0

The second half followed the pattern of the first, Darlington continued to run the game but the Harriers defenders were just about coping with everything that was thrown at them.

Then came the incidents that were to lead to Parfaits dismissal.

First, in the 65th minute came the penalty then came the goal that sealed the defeat.

A cross from Hodgson was sent into the box and young striker Mellanby slid in to put it into the net.

By now the Reds had collapsed and by the end of the game were down to ten men and were lucky not to be three goals down after Conlon had a goal disallowed for offside.

No, it wasn't what Jan had expected. Lets hope it improves for the visit of Preston North End on Tuesday.

FT. 2-0