HARRIERS 1 DARLINGTON 1

JUDGING by the season so far, Kidderminster Harriers are certainly building a reputation as a tough team to beat.

Harriers, with three competitive hard-working midfielders in Danny Williams, Sean Flynn and Sean Parrish, have still lost just once so far.

But they will have hoped for more than one win and two draws out of their first three matches at Aggborough.

Nevertheless, it is certainly a solid opening to Ian Britton's career as a Football League manager.

On Saturday they needed a penalty, and perhaps a dubious one at that, to get on the scoresheet against Darlington.

A far more energetic Andy Ducros impressed in his first start of the season and provided some inviting crosses.

Harriers could have done with the height of the suspended Drewe Broughton to really capitalise on Ducros' creativity.

As it was, their old Achilles heel of conceding goals from corners hit them only eight minutes after Ian Foster's confident spot-kick.

The home side were never completely happy at the back as big bustling front-man Barry Conlon, scorer of Darlington's equaliser, posed problems.

But Harriers at least cut down on the individual errors that marred their home victory over Exeter City.

Skipper Flynn is continuing to settle into life in Division Three, while top scorer Bo Henriksen was perhaps hampered by his groin strain during the week.

Harriers, pursuing their second win of the season, were able to welcome back Craig Hinton from injury.

But hopes of a bumper attendance were crushed by Colombian hit-man Faustino Asprilla's failure to sign for the visitors.

The opening exchanges were scrappy with Darlington keeper Andy Collett easily collecting an Adie Smith header on nine minutes.

At the other end, an off-balance Mark Ford shot wide and Craig Liddle's header was disallowed for offside.

But it was the clever Ducros who was working his way into the game and he nearly provided an unlikely opener on 26 minutes.

Probably the smallest player on the pitch, he met Smith's cross with a good header that Collett tipped onto the bar but an offside was given as Harriers tried to follow up the rebound.

Henriksen, a threat whether injured or not, sent Collett scrambling across his goal with a scuffed 20-yarder moments later.

Darlington opened the second half with what was to be a dress rehearsal of their eventual equaliser.

Left-back Ryan Valentine swung a right-wing corner into the box and Conlon headed over at the far post.

But on 53 minutes Harriers grabbed the advantage when Ducros was barged by full-back Simon Betts in the area.

Foster's cheeky chip down the middle from the spot was sensational and Harriers could have wrapped up the points within four minutes.

Henriksen released Ducros but he ran out of legs and was denied by Collett at the post.

And on 61 minutes Darlington drew themselves level with Conlon meeting Valentine's flag-kick emphatically.

Ducros shot wide for Harriers on 70 minutes but Conlon's ability to win headers still caused problems though Brock was rarely troubled.

The final whistle brought a rather dissatisfying climax in Harriers' fourth draw of the season but there is plenty to be upbeat about ahead of Saturday's game with Boston.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; SMITH 8, Ayres 6, Hinton 6, Stamps 6; Flynn 7, Williams 7, Parrish 6; Ducros 8; Henriksen 6, Foster 6 (Lewis 82). Subs: Danby, Shilton, Doyle, Joy.

DARLINGTON: Collett; Betts, Liddle, Clarke, Valentine; Cullen (Alexander 58), Maddison, Ford, Clark (Wainwright 58); Conlon, Naylor (Hadland 58). Subs: McGurk, Nicholls.

ATTENDANCE: 2,488.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 6, Darlington 5.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 1, Darlington 5.

CORNERS: Harriers 8, Darlington 5.

GOALS: Foster 53, Conlon 61.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 2 (Flynn, Henriksen), Darlington 1 (Betts).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Adie Smith. An excellent defensive display from the right-back, often providing valuable cover for centre-halves Lee Ayres and Craig Hinton.