Venue:
The Williamson Motors Stadium
att:  6972  away fans:  150+
Extra info
Darlington
0
  
Harriers get their Easter campaign off to a storming when late goals grab the points for us at Darlington.
A moment of impetuosity sees Lee Jenkins given a red card.
Harriers
2
  Keates 81
  Rawle 90
  harriers-online match report
Saturday 26th March 2005  
HOME
Eggcellent display at Darlo


In a repeat of the same fixture from last season when the Harriers were the guests at the opening of Darlingtons new stadium we were again honoured to be there at the opening of the final stand at the now complete arena.

In that first game we won 2-0 and this time we repeated the scoreline again to give us our first and only double of the season following our 1-0 win against them back in August.

With a one o'clock kick off, and a ground full of kids on freebies, the Harriers kicked off with the same line-up as in last weeks game against Rushden and the same faces on the bench too.  Lee Jenkins passed a late fitness test on his knee but would have regretted that later on when he was sent off for a second yellow card after kicking the ball away in a moment of stupidity that he'll regret when he misses the games against Wycombe and Bury.

Darlington unveiled their new deadline day signing, Akpo Sodje, upfront.  This Sodje is yet another brother of the famous 'Bandana man' Efe.

The Harriers were the first on the offensive with a deflected corner when Chris Beardsley's shot came off Brian Close.  The corner, taken by Dean Keates came to nothing, and the ball was cleared to safety.

Darlington had a few chances of their own from Sodje and Alun Armstrong but both times they were caught up in the Harriers slick offside trap.  After six minutes Jonjo Dickman saw his shot also deflected the wrong (right) side of the post.  Seconds later they had got the ball into the net but the ref turned the goal down following a foul on John Danby.

Darlo were getting more possession on a poor, wet pitch but slowly the Reds started to get back into the game and by the time the half time whistle blew we were in full command as we saw Lee Jenkins send a shot wide but our front pairing of Beardsley and Blair Sturrock failing to make their presence felt.


HT. 0 - 0

The second half started with a change of personnel for us with the disappointing Sturrock making way for Mark Rawle.  It was obvious that Stuart Watkiss could see that Darlo were there for the taking but we needed a big man to make the breakthrough.

Straight away it was the Harriers on the attack and Beardsley was soon in the thick of things when he just failed to get to a stray ball in the area before the Darlington keeper.  The keeper took a knock on the foot and spent a short while under treatment during which time they swapped Alun Armstrong for Craig Russell.

Darlo had chances to open the scoring through a posh village in Cornwall, St Juste, the sub Russell and David McGurk.  Sodje had another chance but blazed the ball way past the post.

They made some more substitutions with Mark Convery getting replaced by Adrian Webster and soon after Ryan Valentine vacated the pitch to let Neil Wainwright on.  We responded by sending on Iyseden Christie for Chris Beardsley.  Darlo were awarded a corner just after when Webster headed the ball over his own goal??  Don't ask.

It was a mistake in midfield by Richie Applebys brother Matt that broke the deadlock.  Appleby lost control of the ball and John McGrath broke free to play the ball in for Christie whose shot took a deflection off the keeper, Sam Russell.  Dean Keates was at the far post to tap the ball home for our first goal.

Five minutes later and it almost all went belly up.

Lee Jenkins, who had earlier been booked for a bad tackle, for some reason known only to himself opted to kick the ball away when Darlo were awarded a free kick.  The ref didn't hesitate in giving out another yellow and then a red for the silly offence.  Watkiss made another quick change when he took Christie back off to replace him with Billy Jones in an effort to hold onto our slender lead now that we were down to ten men.

Darlington could have equalised straight away when Webster's right wing cross was side footed wide by Sodje but before Darlo could take advantage of the extra man a long ball from the back found Mark Rawle who strolled through and side stepped Sam Russell to roll the ball into an empty net.

This was yet another great away win for the lads following their recent victory against Notts County.  It now takes us to seven games unbeaten and a great chance to extend that to eight when Mansfield come to town on Easter Monday.

Get up to Aggie and bring your grannie with you.


FT. 0 - 2

Man of the Match
vote for your
man of the match now

Darlington  subs   cards      Harriers  subs   cards 
Sam Russell     Danby  
Close     Weaver  
McGurk   Mullins  
Valentine     Hatswell  
Clarke     Jackson  
Convery     Jenkins
Appleby     Beardsley  
Dickman     Keates  
Armstrong     Sturrock  
St'Juste     Cozic  
Sodje     McGrath  
SUBS:       SUBS:    
Webster     Lewis  
Gregorio     Jones  
Fleming     Christie  
Craig Russell     Simon Russell  
Wainwright     Rawle  

REFEREE:
Mr P Robinson
East Yorkshire


links to some
darlington websites:

official site
darlo uncovered
the tinshed
click below
to see previous
results

Site © 1999- Harriers-Online.co.uk - all rights reserved  
This site is 100% unofficial and in no way represents the views of Kidderminster Harriers FC