DARLINGTON's six-match unbeaten start to their third division home campaign ended in misery as Kidderminster Harriers snatched a 2-1 win at Feethams last night.

Gary Bennett's men spurned a host of chances while Harriers took theirs as John Durnin's double undid the Quakers, who fell to only their second home league defeat since May 1999.

To add to Bennett's woe, combative Stuart Elliott was sent off in injury time at the end for catching Barry Horne with an elbow and now faces a three-match ban.

And the Quakers could be in further hot water after a bust-up in the tunnel afterwards where it is alleged Martin Gray head-butted Durnin.

Harriers boss Jan Molby said: "We will be reporting Gray to the FA because that is just not on. We will also be reporting the fourth official for not doing his job because he should be there to make sure nothing happens in the tunnel and report it if it does. It was a disgrace."

The game had been competitive and buoyed by their 2-0 win over Torquay on Saturday, Quakers abandoned any cautious tactics and went immediately on the attack.

Richard Hodgson was prominent in the early stages and his jet-heeled pace caused problems.

It was a corner from the winger though that led to the first chance in the fourth minute when Kidderminster keeper Tim Clarke punched the ball into the path of Thomas Butler on the edge of the box and the loan signing chested the ball down cooly and volleyed agonisingly wide.

Andy Ducros, the visitors' £80,000 record signing from Nuneaton, went closer when he picked up a sloppy pass from Gray and curled an ambitious 20-yard effort just wide.

The Quakers should have taken the lead in the 16th minute after a flowing move down the left. Naylor split the Kidderminster defence by threading a superb ball to Hodgson who sped away and curled in an inch-perfect ball for Nogan.

Somehow though he contrived to allow Clarke the chance to spread himself and block his ten-yard shot. The former York keeper got up quickly to stop Jesper Hjorth slamming home the rebound.

Quakers were undeterred and three minutes later had the ball in the net. Elliott crashed in a trademark speculative volley from the edge of the box which took a wicked deflection and Clarke spilled the ball. Nogan lurked ominously and tapped the ball into the net, but the cheers were silenced by an offside flag from the linesman.

The opening goal was the next moment of action in the 35th minute when Scott Stamps crossed from the right and Adie Smith set up Durnin who skipped inside the defence before slotting the ball home for his second in successive games.

Quakers remonstrated with referee Tom Jones after the goal, claiming Smith was offside in the move, but it was to no avail.

They pressed forward for a quick equaliser and Butler almost got it when his fierce drive just inside the box warmed the hands of Clarke.

Quakers were dealt a massive blow at the start of the second half when, after just 30 seconds, Dean Bennett clipped the ball to Durnin and he sent a 20-yard chip hopefully towards goal and Collett misjudged it as it dropped into the net.

The goal stunned the home side and they tried to lift themselves and their game, led by Butler, who looked composed and controlled.

He went close in the 50th minute with a rasping 25-yard drive which flew inches over the bar.

But it was the deadly Durnin who almost sealed the point when he nipped in behind the defence, rounded the keeper but his three-yard effort struck the post.

Bennett decided to take a double gamble in the 59th minute when hesent on Paul Beavers and Brian Atkinson for Hjorth and Hodgson.

A spate of bookings then followed with Gray, Durnin, Stamps and Webb all yellow-carded.

Quakers salvaged some hope in the 65th minute when Eliott's corner was flicked on by Nogan and Naylor dived bravely to head home his second goal in successive games and fourth of the season.

But the workmanlike Kidderminster defence stood resolutely although they had some late scares.

Butler should have levelled three minutes from time when he blasted wildly over after Beavers had set him up 15 yards out