KIDDERMINSTER Harriers fell victim to a 2-1 smash-and-grab defeat against Darlington as the influential Dan Mooney suffered a bad injury, writes Neil Gordon.
The Reds missed a host of chances throughout and were again punished at the death to cruelly finish empty handed.
Meanwhile, the popular Mooney was stretchered off in clear pain early on in a blow for Harriers.
Kurt Willoughby, Luke Spokes, Tobi Sho-Silva and Zanda Siziba each had chances to score, leaving Ryley Reynolds’ second-half strike all Harriers could show for their domination.
For Darlington, Aidan Rutledge put the visitors in front as the interval approached, before Matty Cornish consigned Harriers to another stoppage-time defeat.
An impeccably observed one minute’s silence took place before kick-off in respect of Remembrance weekend.
A crowd of 2,547 saw Kidderminster slip to seventh in the National League North table on 27 points.
Willoughby forced a superb save from Darlington goalkeeper Darryl Ombang after earlier shooting narrowly wide from distance.
That came after Darlington cleared Spokes’ shot off the line from a corner, while Sho-Silva somehow steered the ball wide at close range after his header had cannoned off the post.
Kidderminster rued these missed chances when Rutledge planted a header home to give Darlington the lead late in the half.
Shortly after the restart Reynolds equalised for Harriers when he put away a low ball in from debutant Michael Gyasi on 53-minutes.
And the Reds pressed for a winner with Sho-Silva heading wide and substitute Siziba hitting the post late on.
However, a punt up field in stoppage time got Harriers defence in a tangle to gift Cornish the chance to score and inflict a sore 2-1 defeat on Harriers.
Kidderminster entertain Corby Town on Saturday, November 15 with kick-off at 3pm at Aggborough.
