Recap: Harriers 0-1 Darlington

---

The offside flag rendered the first Harriers chance of the night obsolete as Ashley Hemmings powered over a header, veteran Will Hatfield slicing an attempted chip over the bar at the other end with 27 on the clock.

Two minutes later the home side went decidedly closer, Morgan-Smith getting an inventive back header on to a corner delivery and dropping it across goal and just wide of the far post.

Six minutes later, it was Harriers on the attack once more as Morgan-Smith supplied Devine, his driven effort spilled by visiting stopper Pete Jameson before the offside flag came to his rescue.

The lively Cedric Main should arguably have done better in first half added time when he saw an effort blocked away on the counterattack, Christian Dibble holding on to Will Flint’s shot just minutes after the restart.

On 53, Darlington should have taken the lead. A mazy run from Jarrett Rivers ended with a good cross to the far post where an unmarked Caden Kelly was waiting for it, only to lash the effort high over the target.

Maz Kouhyar supplied Ryley Reynolds barely a minute later as the on-loan midfielder carefully took aim with an effort that curled around the post, Harriers’ best spell of the game continuing three minutes later when Zak Brown’s glancing header landed just off target.

Just shy of the hour, Hemmings headed down and wide before Kouhyar’s inviting cross was turned behind by Darlington, who went ahead on 76 when Main broke the offside trap and kept his cool to slot the ball between Harriers bodies and into the bottom corner.

The visitors then dug in and defended, withstanding much of Harriers’ attacking intent; only a Seb Thompson effort wide going close before, in added time, Devine’s cross was guided towards the bottom corner, Jameson denying him with virtually his first serious save of the night, a strong foot stuck out at the foot of his near post.

Get full team news and key match facts at The Match Centre.

 

---

---