Darlington skipper Martin Gray could escape a Football Association charge after an alleged bust-up following Tuesday night's home defeat by Kidderminster Harriers.

The visitors' boss Jan Molby accused Gray of headbutting two-goal hero John Durnin after his side's 2-1 win.

But Northern Echo Sport understands match referee Trevor Jones did not see the alleged incident in the tunnel and it will not feature in his report.

Now it all depends on whether Molby carries out his threat of reporting Gray to the FA - and that still seems likely.

By a strange twist of fate, Molby himself is set to be hauled before FA disciplinary chiefs with Barrow official Mr Jones reporting the former Liverpool and Denmark star for misconduct.

It is believed Molby was involved in several heated exchanges with the referee both throughout the game and at the end and could be hit with a fine or touchline ban.

Football League spokesman John Nagle said: ''We will wait for the referee's report which should come through within 48 hours.

''If the referee reports anything about the incident we will act upon it accordingly and if the police saw the incident they may also take action.''

But a spokesman for County Durham police said: ''We've received no complaints and I suspect, if press reports are correct, the two clubs are going to sort it out between themselves. If the FA get involved, that's a matter for them to resolve.

''We know nothing about the incident and we have not been asked to get involved.''

Darlington boss Gary Bennett said he will wait for the referee's report before taking further action: "I didn't see anything and if something happened then we will look into it.

"What I will say is that Jan Molby didn't behave as he should have done. As a manager he was a disgrace. From the start he was not happy with the officials and he was inciting our fans.

"After the game he was still going on. I thought his whole approach was wrong."

Bennett will have one player in the FA dock after Stuart Elliott's red card in injury-time following an alleged elbow on Kidderminster's Barry Horne.

The tough-tackling but talented 23-year-old now faces a three-match ban, ruling him out of the games against Hull, Halifax and the FA Cup first round game, for a violent conduct charge.

He will also face a heavy fine if guilty as Bennett said: "We will discipline him if he is found guilty.

"Stuart is probably going to be out for three matches now and that is a blow to us. But it's something our players are going to have to deal with.

"Teams are going to come to us and try to be physical and get us riled and we are going to have to handle it and stay calm and not react.

"Stuart got frustrated. He probably felt we didn't deserve to be losing and it caused a reaction."

Quaker's reserves drew 1-1 at an experienced Huddersfield side yesterday in their group match of the Avon Insurance League Cup.

Craig Skelton scored for the Quakers - his second in successive reserve games - and Bennett said: "He did well and is starting to show the form of which he is capable. I hope he carries that on now."

l Darlington and Hartlepool will replay their FA Youth Cup tie next Monday at Victoria Park (7pm) after drawing 1-1 atFeethams last night.

Stephen Flockett put Pool in front in the first minute and Quakers levelled through Mark Sheeran