Saturday, August 31, 2002

KIDDERMINSTER Harriers had to settled for their fourth draw in their opening six Nationwide League Division Three outings after a 1-1 deadlock with Darlington at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers took the lead with a 53rd minute penalty from Ian Foster but the Quakers hit back eight minutes later through Barry Conlon.

Aggborough boss Ian Britton, however, felt his side should have taken all three points. He said: "We went for it but we never got that bit of luck. We were a bit sloppy with the goal they scored.

"We could have won by two or three but it was not to be, although the positive thing is we played some decent stuff.

"We are getting harder to beat and after the first six games I'll settle for that. I think we will only get better.

"I have said to the players that they have dropped two points but there's absolutely nobody to fear in this league. If they believe in that then we'll have a good season."

Britton feels his side are not getting the rub of the green at times, as happened in the 26th minute when Andy Ducros had a header touched onto the bar by 'keeper Andy Collett before being scrambled away.

He said: "Other days it might have gone in. We just need that little bit of luck. You make your own luck really, but over the season it evens itself out."

Kidderminster began looking far more threatening midway through the first half and following Ducros' header against the bar were denied when Collett saved an awkward bobbling shot from Bo Henriksen.

Eight minutes into the second half Harriers went ahead when Foster cleverly chipped his penalty past Collett after Simon Betts was adjudged to have tripped Ducros.

It was an incident which angered Quakers' boss Tommy Taylor, who said: "There could be 20 penalties in every game if the referee adjudges it to be like that because everybody shields players away from the ball. That's all he's done and been given a penalty against him."

Five minutes after Foster had broken the deadlock Darlington made a triple substitution which quickly began to reap rewards.

Within three minutes they were level when Conlon headed in Ryan Valentine's corner to help ease some of their disappointment for failing earlier in the week to secure the services of former Newcastle United star striker Faustino Asprilla.

It sparked a lively spell by the visitors although Ducros, in his first appearance of the season, had a chance in the 70th minute, but his effort went wide.

Record signing Ducros came in for praise from Britton, who said: "I think he played very well. With a bit more luck he could have had a couple of goals."