DARLINGTON'S Stephen Thompson netted a 90th-minute winner to beat play-off hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 at Blackwell Meadows in National League North.

The Quakers stalwart drove the ball beyond keeper Jon Flatt to give his side victory when the visitors looked to have done enough to snatch a deserved point through Joe Ironside’s 18th goal of the campaign.

Harriers had an opportunity to go ahead before Darlington’s first on 10 minutes but spurned it when James McQuilkin skewed wide from just a few yards.

Kidderminster were hit at the other end when a lofted ball towards goal was not dealt with by Flatt and Josh Heaton on hand to steer the ball home.

Four minutes later, a double save from Flatt’s opposite number kept Harriers at bay as Declan Weeks was denied from a free-kick with George Waring also seeing a rebound kept out.

On 34 minutes, neat interplay found Lee Vaughan free inside the area and on the angle he attempted to bend the ball into the far corner but could only watch on as the keeper again proved equal to the effort.

Within just a couple of minutes of the restart Harriers were almost hit for a second when Dave Syers threatened to get away from his man.

Sam Austin and James Pearson with some key defensive interventions before and after the hour blocked what would have been certain goals.

After 70 minutes Darlington ought to have made it two but a fine curling effort from ex-Harriers forward Reece Styche clipped the outside of the post after beating the keeper.

Seven minutes later, Ironside restored parity by making no mistake at the other end with his initial header clipping the post before he was on hand to finish.

Both teams set about finding a winner but in the 90th minute it was the home side who found it.

Elton Ngwatala was robbed of the ball as he delayed his pass before Thompson found himself free, going on to rifle his finish into the net to the delight of the home fans.

Home goalkeeper Aynsley Pears held a Dan Bradley effort in injury-time as Darlington held on.

Harriers manager John Eustace said after their second defeat in a row: "I don’t think we deserved to lose the game.

“In the first half we created some great chances but didn’t take them.

"In the second half they had a couple of chances but I felt a draw was a fair result in the end so to concede at the death is really disappointing.

“I would have been happy with a point after last week and felt the boys battled really well.

“In the second half we carried on playing and I was happy with the overall performance but really disappointed with conceding at the end.”

Harriers: Flatt, Austin, Vaughan, Pearson, Horsfall, Croasdale, Weeks (Brown 68), McQuilkin (Sonupe 59), Ngwatala, Waring (Ironside 59), Bradley. Subs not used: Palmer, Truslove.

Attendance: 1,427.