They say teams need a little bit of luck to win the FA Cup, and should Darlington lift the trophy in Cardiff next May, they'll look back to Saturday's only goal knowing fortune was on their side from the beginning.

Back on planet Earth, Darlington's players and fans are more likely to be in the Costa del Sol than Cardiff come Cup Final day, but for the time being Quakers can look forward to a trip to either Altrincham or Lancaster City on December 8 having edged past Kidderminster Harriers.

But Quakers were grateful to the referee who did have a small say in the winning goal, while merely a weak gust of wind would've been enough to send the ball over Quakers' goal-line when a Kidderminster effort trickled along the line having hit the inside of the post.

However, it is a disservice to say Darlington were lucky to have won at the Aggborough Stadium, because some determined defending, with David Brightwell shining, were key to the victory.

Having enjoyed the majority of possession, Jan Moby's side will feel aggrieved at being knocked out at the first hurdle, but Darlington's resolute defending, especially in the latter stages, and the resilience Tommy Taylor has instilled into the Darlington side, ensured Quakers kept a second consecutive clean sheet.

The 54th minute Paul Campbell goal signaled a sustained period of Kidderminster pressure, and Taylor admitted Darlington had to be on their guard to deal with the barrage.

"It was backs to the wall stuff for most of the game. The back four were magnificent, the midfielders worked hard and our wide-men stopped their full-backs from getting forward. They came at us and we had to be aware at the back," he said.

"The boys defended ever so well, the goalkeeper made one save and dealt with a few crosses, and that's it. The boys handled everything else.

"I think the players wanted to prove a point. They made tackles, they took knocks, they put their body in the way when they had to and they stuck their head in there when they had to and we only got one booking which shows their desire to win the ball was good.

"I'm pleased for the players because they worked hard during the week. But we've got two very hard league games coming up and we need to take four points at least from them."

With injuries and suspension tearing into the squad - Campbell took Maddison's place who didn't make the trip having picked up an ankle injury in training on Friday - Taylor's team almost picked itself with trainee David McGurk placed on the bench and the 19-year-old impressed during the second half as Adam Reed sustained a knee injury which will sideline him for four to five weeks.

The entire match was almost void of attractive football and with Darlington fielding Kirk Jackson as a lone striker, any sustained periods of Quakers pressure were always going to be unlikely, while Harriers were kept at bay, although they did look the more likely to make the breakthrough until Campbell scored.

The aerial threat of Tony Bird was a constant menace during the first half; the ex-Swansea City man had a goal ruled-out for offside and then saw a goal-bound effort deflected off the line by Brightwell.

The game's turning point came with Campbell's goal, although referee Alan Butler did have a small say. Mr Butler was fooled into believing Jackson had tapped the ball off a defender's leg, and thus, gave Darlington an unjust throw-in level with Harriers' penalty area.

From the resulting throw left-winger Richard Hodgson, who'd found himself over on the right, swung in a great cross, using his weaker foot, from which Campbell became the hero.

Stamps earned himself a yellow card for protesting about the throw, but 14 minutes from time he came within a ball width of earning his team a replay at Feethams.

He rose to head the ball past Andy Collett, but his effort hit the inside of the post and rolled, for the home fans, agonisingly, across the line.

As Harriers continued to hold possession, they fired in a flurry of hopeful shots, most of which were off target while their punts in to the penalty area were dealt with by Brightwell while McGurk belied his years with a steady display.

The Darlington players and supporters were relieved in unison when the final whistle sounded as the threat of a Kidderminster equaliser ended.