Saturday, November 17, 2001

ASSISTANT boss Gary Barnett blamed a lapse in Kidderminster Harriers' concentration for their controversial 1-0 defeat against Darlington in Saturday's FA Cup first round clash at Aggborough.

The Quakers clinched victory in the 54th minute with a goal that followed a hotly disputed throw-in which was awarded in their favour.

And while Harriers were challenging the decision they were caught out by a cross from Richard Hodgson which was headed in at the far post by Paul Campbell.

Barnett said: "It was definitely the wrong decision and we lost concentration. The cross went in too easily. There were possibly a few occasions where defensively we did let them cross the ball a little too easily for our liking that that was certainly one of them and we paid for it."

Harriers' problems began before the kick-off when striker Drewe Broughton was sent home suffering from 'flu.

It was a damaging setback particularly as they were already without suspended Ian Foster and on-loan Colin Larkin who was unable to play because his club Wolves did not want him to become cup-tied.

Broughton's replacement Tony Bird went close to scoring on a number of occasions with one of his efforts being cleared off the line by David Brightwell.

Barnett said: "Darlington came with their defensive tactics to stifle us and we just haven't been clever enough in and around the box just to create those couple more openings that we needed.

"We had a couple of chances but we just didn't play the open and attacking football that we have done over the last few weeks."

By half-time Bird had had a 'goal' disallowed for off-side, another effort knocked off the line, a further shot hit the side-netting and another stopped at the second attempt by 'keeper Andrew Collett.

Collett also saved well from Bo Henriksen although Darlington always looked defensively solid and after the break they began to sense that sneaking a goal was a strong possibility.

After Campbell has broken the deadlock they should have wrapped up the tie when Kirk Jackson volleyed wide from in front of goal.

Kidderminster's misery was complete when Scott Stamps had a header strike the inside of a the post before running across the face of goal and being cleared.

Collett also pulled off a fine save to deny substitute Sam Shilton.