Will's screamer earns Quakers a point

By Ray Simpson

Will's screamer earns Quakers a point

Superb goal by Will -- possible goal of the season

Kidderminster 1 Darlington 1

Hatfield 57 mins, 0-1 Prosser 61 mins, 1-1

Attendance 1509 (161 Darlington fans)

An absolute screamer by Will Hatfield gave Quakers a point at Aggborough.

His goal early in the second half livened up a poor game -- and it will be well worth watching on  the highlights. Will said afterwards it was the best goal of his career -- and it's a strong contender for the Darlington FC goal of the season award.

The pity was, that the it wasn't the matchwinner, because Kidderminster equalised shortly after.

Quakers forced an early corner on the right, but it was headed away at the far post.

There was a scare for Quakers on 9 minutes when Louis Laing played a back pass to Liam Connell and the keeper slipped on the greasy surface just as he was about kick the ball, but he recovered and found Laing even though he was flat out on the ground at the time.

Kiddie had the first shooting chance on 13 minutes. Two shots were charged down before the ball came out to Alex Prosser on the edge of the box, but he blazed his shot wide.

Kiddie had another chance on 14 minutes when Ashley Chambers won the ball on the left and rolled the ball into the box for Prosser, whose low shot was blocked by Connell.

Prosser then had another effort that was pushed away by Connell, and Milan Butterfield curled another effort just wide of the right hand post, although Connell had it covered.

Quakers survived that spell and denied Kidderminster space in shooting positions on the edge of the area. They came more into the game as an attacking force, without giving the Kidderminster keeper much to do until just before half time, when Adam Campbell laid the ball off for Stephen Thompson to hit first time from twelve yards out, straight at Mannion.

half time 0-0

Quakers had a big let off at the start of the second half. Ashley Chambers broke into the box, drew Connell towards him and squared the ball for Ed Williams who tripped over the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Ashley Hemmings put a more difficult chance over the bar after Chambers had set him up.

Quakers nearly scored on 57 minutes when Laing found Campbell on the right with a great ball, and he played the ball into the middle for Wheatley to have a shot blocked six yards out.

But the ball came back out to Watson who played it in field for Hatfield to run forward and hit a right foot screamer from 35 yards into the top right corner – his third of the season. (There's an interview coming up soon with Will)

But Kidderminster were level on 61 minutes, when a left wing cross was cleared as far as Prosser, who hit the ball full on the volley and beat Connell.

Thompson had a chance  for Quakers, but he lost control of the ball as he ran into the box, and at the other end Connell blocked an attempted lob by Prosser.

Connell came to his side’s rescue when Davidson picked up a great defence splitting pass and was clean through, but Connell blocked at the sub’s feet.

Final score

Kidderminster 1 Darlington 1

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Connell, Hedley, Watson, Wheatley, Laing, Galbraith, Rivers, Hatfield, Campbell, Reid (Sub Holness 73), Thompson (sub Donawa 69)

Subs: Elliott, Storey, Atkinson

Booking: Thompson, Donawa, Watson

Kidderminster: 

Mannion, Moyo, Austin, R Williams, Johnson, Lowe (sub Davidson 71), Prosser, Butterfield, Chambers, Hemmings, E Williams (sub Freemantle 58)

Subs: Shenton, Palmer, Digie,

Booking: Moyo