THE bearer of bad news, a dismissive wave was all David Hodgson could afford to his players when Neil Wainwright's last-minute goal sparked a frenzied pitch invasion.

Cruelly, news had somehow filtered down to the Quakers bench that Kidderminster were holding Northampton to a draw.

Lost in translation, John McGrath's dismissal for Harriers in the 74th minute was strangely interpreted as an equaliser by the time it reached the Williamson Motors Stadium.

But by the time Akpo Sodje was hauled back by his teammates after adding a third in injury time, Hodgson had already conceded defeat to the Cobblers in the race for seventh.

The odds were always against Quakers reclaiming the final play-off place, needing a victory three goals better than Northampton.

As it turned out Hodgson's men would have required another four goals to extend their season.

"Somebody shouted from the stand that Kidderminster had equalised and I told the players," said Hodgson.

"It fired us up and got us a couple of goals, but it was horrible when I had to tell them we were out of it."

A campaign which has been littered with inconsistent results, Hodgson refused to go down the 'what if' path on Saturday. Regretfully, the Quakers boss knows a play-off place was there for the taking.

And, while Hodgson cut a despondent figure at the weekend, he was willing to accept that Quakers have paid for their unpredictable ways.

"Akpo might have taken his top off when he scored, but I would have run on to that pitch naked if we'd reached the play-offs," said Hodgson.

"Unfortunately it just wasn't meant to be.

"I always knew that Northampton would have enough about them, but I was pleased that we did our bit.

"Over the course of the season we've made more correct decisions than the wrong ones, but that hasn't been enough.

"We fell short by losing games we should have won this year and that's something we have to deal with next season."

As disappointing as the outcome was at the weekend, there was a resounding feeling of satisfaction that the club is moving in the right direction under Hodgson.

There is little question that the Quakers boss will sign a new contract this summer, and after Saturday's reception, chairman Stewart Davies may well be warming to the idea of moving his furniture in on a permanent basis too.

"The chairman wants me to sign a new contract and I think he's slowly coming around to the idea of sticking around," revealed Hodgson.

"I heard the fans singing his name and quite rightly too because he has done a fantastic job."

Indeed, given the predicament Quakers were in 12 months ago, both Davies and Hodgson have combined to provide drama for all the right reasons this season.

And, as long as their renaissance continues into the 2005/06 campaign, Quakers fans will have a lot more to smile about this time next year.

"Last year we stayed in the league when the club was built on sand," said Hodgson. "Now there are solid foundations to build on for next season.

"We've set the standard by finishing eighth and now we must better that next season.

"We don't have to harp on about last season, but we have came a long way.

"New players will come in during the summer and I think we have a lot to look forward to next season."

Despite Quakers' highest finish since 2000 - when they came fourth - Hodgson has promised wholesale changes during the summer.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not Hodgson will continue to attract former Premiership stars, as some of those there now prepare to leave.

Alun Armstrong is almost certain to end his eight-month association with Quakers when he talks to Colchester this week.

With one goal in his last 15 appearances Armstrong has hardly helped Quakers' play-off aspirations and he did little to lead the goal charge on Saturday, limping off after 34 minutes.

Instead it was 15-goal leading scorer Clyde Wijnhard who posed the biggest threat and he was unlucky to see his fourth minute header rebound off the bar.

At the other end Quakers keeper Sam Russell was well positioned to save comfortably from Damian Spencer's header.

But after Russell spilled Grant McCann's speculative free-kick in the 29th minute Spencer was the grateful recipient, tapping into an empty net.

The tenacious Matty Appleby was unlucky not to level when he sent Jason St Juste's cross from the left wide of Shane Higgs' goal.

But with two minutes of the half remaining Higgs could only watch when Jonjo Dickman glided his effort over the Robins keeper from Wijnhard's driven cross.

Curtis Fleming - making his 400th career appearance - had not scored since 1998 (for Middlesbrough in a 2-1 win over Blackburn), although the former Republic of Ireland international came close when he scuffed his shot at Higgs.

In the 68th minute Higgs saved superbly from Wijnhard's header, before the stopper held Sodje's shot comfortably moments later.

And, while gossip spread down to the bench that Kidderminster had equalised, Wainwright sent the crowd of 5,575 into raptures when he directed his header past Higgs.

But after Sodje made it 3-1 in injury-time, looping his shot over Higgs, Hodgson played down the celebrations as Northampton booked a semi-final showdown with Southend on Sunday.

Result: Darlington 3 Cheltenham 1.

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