Express & Star

Kidderminster Harriers have to start ‘growing up’

Midfielder Declan Weeks reckons Kidderminster Harriers must start “growing up” after blowing a two-goal lead late to draw 3-3 at home with Darlington.

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The former Wolves academy star also blasted “naive” referee Martin Rawcliffe following the sending-off of substitute Tyrone Williams during a chaotic final 11 minutes at Aggborough, in which Harriers conceded twice to let slip a 3-1 advantage.

Williams was dismissed when he appeared to thrust his head into Darlington’s Harvey Saunders during an off-the-ball altercation.

Weeks disagreed with the decision but conceded Harriers should have dealt better with the visitors’ physical game plan.

“I think they (Darlington) have got into the ref’s head. I don’t think Tyrone headbutted him,” he said. “They both collided heads. It is just naive from the referee really.

“He has booked a lot of their players, personally I thought some could have been sent off.

“Then when it has come to sending one of ours off, he has not hesitated. I think we have to learn from that. Their players getting round the ref and making his decisions, we have to start doing that more and growing up a bit.

“It is about playing the game and being street smart. We are a young group still learning our way. We need to start growing up a bit.”

First-half goals from Andre Brown and James McQuilkin had put Harriers in control and though Joel Taylor put through his own net in stoppage time, Elton Ngwatala restored the two-goal cushion early in the second period.

But Terry Galbraith headed Darlington back into it and – after Williams had seen red – substitute David Syers netted an 89th minute leveller.

It was the second straight home game Harriers had conceded an equaliser at the death and they remain 12th in the National League North table. A frustrated Weeks said: “Without the late goals we have conceded I would love to know where we would be in the table.

“We would be right up there. We have to start cutting it out now.

“It is all right saying it, we have to start doing it. It’s November, we have to start climbing up the table.”