ANDY Ducros kick-started his Kidderminster Harriers season and handed Jan Molby the "biggest result" of the campaign so far.

Molby was again delighted with the way Harriers overcame defeat in Division Three after the midweek Luton loss.

They ran the show against Darlington and made their visitors play far more negatively than they originally set out to do.

In November, they travelled down to Aggborough from the north-east to defend and pinched a 1-0 FA Cup first round victory.

But, against a patched-up Harriers team, they had little option but to get men behind the ball despite intending to push up wingers alongside lone forward Danny Mellanby.

Record signing Ducros became more of an influence as the game wore on after scoring in the 53rd minute.

The striker, who has only been kept out by the form of his fellow strikers, was always looking to shoot or play a team-mate through once settled.

As it was, the excellent Danny Williams in midfield kept Harriers ticking over as a dominant force, while Craig Hinton was solid in defence.

They needed the win far more than a great display but the team performance was pleasing nonetheless.

However, Molby and chairman Lionel Newton could not hide their disappointment at the 2,756 crowd, the division's lowest of the day watching in-form Harriers climb into the play-off zone.

With Sam Shilton, Lee Ayres and Ian Joy among the fringe players given their chance due to injuries, Harriers survived an early scare.

Keeper Stuart Brock passed his test of character after three Luton blunders but Mellanby should have given him more to do on 10 minutes.

The striker took advantage of Ayres' failed clearance and ran on to shoot tamely wide.

Ian Foster had earlier shot off target for Harriers who were playing neat football which lacked punch for most of the first half.

However, their patience paid off as the chances started to arrive and Darlington somehow avoided falling behind on 37 minutes.

Ducros fed Shilton who burst into the area and cut the ball back for Foster, recalled in place of Drewe Broughton.

His drive was blocked by big centre-back David Brightwell who somehow stopped a follow-up from Ducros and the Harrier then slammed yet another rebound into the same ruck of defenders.

The former Coventry striker tested keeper Andy Collett before the interval but quickly put Harriers in control in the second period.

Williams found Ducros with a superb through-pass and he stepped inside his marker in the area before rifling the ball in off the far post.

Darlington continued to give Brock very little to worry about and it could have ended 2-0 or 3-0.

Ducros released Foster on 61 minutes but the striker's finishing was not up to his Torquay supersub display and he sent a low shot wide.

It was Ducros again asking the questions seven minutes later when his 20-yard effort was fumbled by Collett.

Sub Adie Smith, back after a groin operation, followed up but could not direct the ball goalwards.

Ducros sailed an audacious chip away from goal and then tested Collett later on after good work from Foster on the left.

It was clear his confidence was up and he gave Bo Henriksen, for once short of chances, an opportunity seven minutes from time.

Henriksen steered the ball wide of the post after running onto the pass but it did not matter.

Harriers were never going to be caught out by dull Darlington and they completed a comfortable 12th league victory.

HARRIERS: Brock 6; Clarkson 7, Ayres 6, Hinton 7, Joy 6; Bennett 6, WILLIAMS 8, Shilton 6 (Smith 62, 6); Ducros 7, Henriksen 7, Foster 7 (Broughton 80). Subs not used: Murphy, Davies, Faulds.

DARLINGTON: Collett; Betts, McGurk, Brightwell, Heckingbottom; Hodgson (Wainwright 58), Ford, Maddison (Campbell 78), Brumwell, Clark (Sheeran 58); Mellanby. Subs not used: Atkinson, Finch.

ATTENDANCE: 2,756.

SHOTS ON: Harriers 7 Darlington 1.

SHOTS OFF: Harriers 12 Darlington 3.

CORNERS: Harriers 10 Darlington 3.

YELLOW CARDS: Harriers 1 (Bennett), Darlington 1 (Brightwell).

RED CARDS: Harriers 0, Darlington 1(Betts).

SHUTTLE STAR MAN: Danny Williams. A key man as Harriers wrestled control of the match and provided the through-ball for Andy Ducros' winner. Reads the game so well, uses the ball intelligently and tackles firmly. Ducros and Craig Hinton were also impressive.