GIVEN his choice of renditions, the lone bagpipe player was obviously oblivious to Darlington's track record against League Two strugglers.

While Rod Stewart's 70s hit "We Are Sailing" bellowed out before kick-off, as part of Saturday's celebrations to mark the opening of the North Stand, manager David Hodgson didn't even have enough breath to give his usual post-match synopsis.

Hodgson had made his way to the top of the South Stand to speak to the press, only to turn around, clearly still livid and wary of what he might say on live radio.

Instead it was the dressing room which felt the brunt of Hodgson's anger, while the calming figure of Mark Proctor was given the unenviable task of discussing what went wrong.

"Where shall we start?" asked Proctor. "We always seem to shoot ourselves in the foot when it comes to big occasions.

"You would not associate that kind of performance with a side going for promotion. We played with no confidence and looked like a bottom three side."

For all the talent Hodgson has at his disposal, the Quakers boss may want to consider drafting in a psychologist to aid their fear of lowly opponents.

Harriers became the seventh side in the bottom half of League Two to beat Quakers this season. Extraordinarily Hodgson's men have taken maximum points from all top five teams.

Not for the first time Quakers failed to perform in front of an increased crowd of 6,972.

Last season 11,600 watched Quakers mark their historic first game at the stadium with a defeat, ironically against Harriers. In December, Quakers were trounced 3-0 by Rochdale before their biggest gate of the season - 7,028.

"Hodgy can't talk to anyone because he's that frustrated," revealed Proctor. "He's more or less smashed the dressing room up.

"I'd like to defend the players but I can't because it's another massive opportunity gone again in front of a big crowd."

Until the 81st minute second bottom Kidderminster - who started the day four points adrift of safety - would have happily taken a point back to Worcestershire. Then they stumbled into an unexpected lead through Dean Keates.

And, after Lee Jenkins was dismissed for a second bookable offence minutes later, substitute Mark Rawle added a second in injury time.

"A couple of lapses in concentration cost us dearly," said Proctor. "We can talk about how we've conceded goals all day but we have to look at the bigger picture.

"It's a typical Darlington situation were we've worked hard to get where we are, only to let everybody down.

"We've prepared for the Kidderminster game in the best possible way but they just didn't perform when they crossed that white line.

"We go from one extreme to another. I go to bed on a Friday night not knowing what we're going to get the next day.

"We're as frustrated as the fans. We know how they feel and we're all devastated."

Perhaps the only consolation is that Quakers have an opportunity to rectify the situation at Bristol Rovers this afternoon. And given their record of bouncing back this season, few would bet against Hodgson's men returning with three points this evening.

"The only positive we can take from the game is that we have another game on Monday," said Proctor. "Knowing us, we will go to Bristol and win.

"We can't take anything from Kidderminster because they came desperate for points and they went away with three."

The visitors were forced on to the back foot in the opening exchanges and Jonjo Dickman was unlucky to see his low effort deflected wide in the seventh minute.

After Matt Clarke headed tamely at Harriers' keeper John Danby moments later, winger Jason St Juste then saw his shot charged down.

Quakers did have the ball in the back of the net in the 14th minute, although the whistle had already blown when debutant Akpo Sodje rolled the ball home after a clear push on Danby.

The lively Sodje - on-loan from Huddersfield - then greedily placed his shot over the bar from the edge of the area when finding the unmarked Mark Convery would have been a better option.

Despite the early pressure the visitors held firm, with Mark Jackson a commanding presence at the back.

Harriers were unlucky not to take the lead against the run of play on the half hour.

First, Jenkins' close-range effort was blocked by Clarke, before Keates dragged the ball wide of Sam Russell's goal.

With half-time approaching Danby had to be alert, racing out of his area to clear under pressure from the lightning quick Sodje.

Harriers should have taken a 51st minute lead when the unmarked Chris Beardsley headed Keates' corner wide.

At the other end defender David McGurk was presented with a couple of half chances, heading over Convery's flag kick, before sending a speculative effort high over the bar.

Sodje should have done better on the hour, latching on to Ryan Valentine's long ball, before pulling his shot horribly wide.

With home side in control substitute Adrian Webster came close to breaking the deadlock, heading wide from Jason St Juste's cross.

With just nine minutes remaining Keates pounced at the back post to give Harriers an unlikely lead after Russell could only palm away Rawle's long-range effort.

With full-time approaching Jenkins was sent off.

But even with ten-men Harriers added a second through Rawle. The substitute out-muscled Brian Close on the edge of the area, before rounding Russell and tapping into an empty net.

Quakers slipped out of the play-off zone for the fifth time this season, so perhaps on his next visit to the WMS the bagpipe player may want to perform "Why do you build me up, buttercup?"

Read more about the Quakers here.