Darlington win again

Darlington's revival continued as they recorded their second win inside five days today.

Kidderminster Harriers arrived at The Northern Echo Arena with one of the best away records in the division, having won five on the road, but they were second-best through-out to a much-improved Quakers.

Seven days ago Mark Cooper's side were awful when losing 2-0 at Bath City, but they today they followed up Tuesday's 4-3 win at Stockport by beating Kidderminster 1-0.

Ten minutes from time Spaniard Jonatan Sanchez-Munoz got the only goal, his first for the club, but he only played due to an injury to Graeme Lee.

He failed a fitness test after suffering a groin strain in training, so Sanchez-Munoz kept his place as Cooper kept the same XI from Tuesday.

That meant a home debut for new signing Exodus Geohagon and the 6ft 5in centre-back immediately impressed. He won every high ball that came his way while his trademark long throws caused Kidderminster problems.

At one point in the second period Aaron Brown deliberately allowed the ball to go out for a throw, despite having the option of taking a touch and crossing, to allow Geohagon to hurl the ball goal-wards and keeper Daniel Lewis even had to punch one clear from under his own crossbar during a first period in which Quakers improved as the game went on and created several chances.

Greg Taylor, again at right-back, saw a shot accidentally blocked by James Walshaw and go out for a goal kick before Walahaw saw a header bounce off the ground and into Lewis' hands following a Rundle cross.

Rundle enjoyed his most productive game of the season. Positioned on the right-wing, as he was at Stockport, played to his strengths as he fired in a handful of dangerous crosses. One through-ball appeared perfectly-weighted for Walshaw on to it, but good defending by Michael Briscoe to hook the ball away denied the forward a chance to shoot.

From 30 yards Rundle unleashed a fierce low drive that was pushed wide by Lewis, but in a counter-attack came the Harriers' only effort of the first 45 minutes with James Vincent volleying wide Steve Guinan's cross.

A goal then would have been unjust given Darlington's first-half superiority, but the visitors had another good chance at the start of the second period.

Tom Sharpe's right-wing cross found Callum Gittings who beat Ole Soderberg but the effort rebounded off the bar and soon after Geohagon showed his defensive nous by closing down Jamille Matt who, as a result, fired at the Quakers keeper.

Although Geohagon's aerial supremacy and long throws catch the attention, his performance proved his defensive ability as well as a desire to find feet with his passes, suggesting Cooper may have completed a real coup in landing the defender.

But Darlington were frustrated seven minutes into the second half fell when a strong penalty appeal fell on deaf ears, one that Cooper later said was “a cast-iron penalty”.

Aaron Brown's left-wing cross was taken down by Walshaw who took a a touch before being felled and he sat stunned on the deck as referee Declan Ford played on.

It was a rare mistake from Ford who otherwise enjoyed a decent afternoon and a free-kick he awarded soon after almost led to a Quakers goal.

Brown took it short to Kris Taylor who passed infield to Greg Taylor, but his low driven effort was deflected wide by yellow-booted centre-back Tom Marshall.

Greg Taylor fired narrowly wide on 70 minutes, after Rundle pulled the ball back, leaving Darlington to wonder if it was going to be their day.

But they finally got the goal they had been threatening with Sanchez-Munoz grabbing his first for the club, and it came following a Geohagon throw.

His delivery was partially cleared to Jamie Chandler who sent the ball back into the danger area where Geohagon headed the ball on and Sanchez-Munoz swept the ball home from close-range.

It was fitting that he should score given that he enjoyed his best game for the club having previously played in three away games during which Quakers conceded a total of seven goals.

At this point Kidderminster, who started the day ninth, began to show their quality with substitute Marc Williams cutting inside and fired a shot wide and then Sanchez-Munoz had a let-off when he was turned by Kyle Storer.

But Soderberg was quickly off his line to gather, and in injury time substitute Ryan Bowman spurned a chance to add a second goal. He raced clear of the Kidderminster defence and found himself in a one-on-one situation, but his effort hit a post.

It was not to matter as Darlington closed out victory that lifts them one place to 13th and they now looked forward to Tuesday's home game with 12th-placed Barrow.

Goal: Sanchez-Munoz (80, 1-0)

Bookings: Hatch (54, handball); Storer (61, foul)

Referee: Declan Ford

Attendance: 1,763

Darlington (4-4-2): Soderberg; G Taylor, Geohagon, Sanchez-Munoz, K Taylor; Rundle (McReady 90), Atkinson, Chandler, Brown; Walshaw (Bowman 74), Hatch. Subs (not used): Russell (gk), Arnison, Bridge-Wilkinson

Kidderminster Harriers (4-4-2): Lewis; Sharpe, Briscoe, Marshall, Demetriou; Wright, Vincent, Storer (Cresswell 89), Gittings (Marc Williams 71); Matt, Guinan (Thompson-Brown 64). Subs (not used): Phelan, Medley