ON a chilly October night that tested the mettle of Darlington’s most ardent supporters, those that made it to Blackwell Meadows were rewarded with a sixth successive win for Alun Armstrong’s in-form team.

Quakers are up to 11th now, one point off the play-offs after Jarrett Rivers’ first-half goal gave them a 1-0 victory, one that owed plenty to a stunning save by Liam Connell.

At the very end of another assured display, he pulled off an incredible save in the dying seconds.

It could prove to be his final act in a Darlington shirt, his loan from South Shields having now expired.

It was a heck of a way to bow out, if it does prove to be farewell, though all of a Quakers persuasion want him to stay as the team continues its winning run, and manager Alun Armstrong was delighted with his players, who were excellent in the first half.

They missed chances to be further ahead at the break, and he said: “I had been a bit worried because we didn’t have a game on Saturday, you wonder if that is going to be the end of the run because you lose momentum, but the lads were outstanding.

“We could have been 3-0 up at half-time, we thoroughly deserved to be ahead.

“Second half was backs to the walls at times, especially the last 25 minutes, but I’m chuffed to bits with the team.”

Armstrong named an unchanged starting XI from the last match – the win at Tamworth in the FA Cup when Connell saved a penalty - and Quakers started with a clear intent to make it six wins in a row, forcing a flurry of openings.

Rivers was wide of the target after forcing his way past a defender, Adam Campbell curled the ball over from around 25 yards and right-back Ben Hedley had goalkeeper Cameron Gregory panicking when hit a drive from long-range.

Scoring with such an audacious effort would have rivalled Stephen Thompson’s strike against the same opposition at Blackwell in January, when Darlington 3-0.

It could have been 3-0 by the 20-minute mark last night, yet Quakers could not convert their numerous chances.

In a rare Kidderminster attack new signing Ashley Hemmings, a player who has caused Quakers problems in the past for Boston and Altrincham, dribbled though midfield and reached the edge of the penalty area before shooting well wide.

The miss at least meant Connell got to touch the ball for the first time in a while, the goalkeeper having been rarely employed during the opening stages.

There was inevitable worry Darlington would live to regret not taking their opportunities, though Connell underlined his quality by cleanly taking two catches when Kidderminster began to threaten and by half-time Quakers were ahead amid controversy.

It came after a Hedley free-kick, Tyrone O’Neill hooking the ball to Holness who took a touch and Rivers supplied the finish, firing under the goalkeeper.

But Harriers believed O’Neill had caught Rhys Williams with a high boot and the visitors’ protests led to Declan Weeks going into the referee’s book.

Kidderminster manager John Pemberton was furious with the referee and later said Williams, who was immediately substituted, had broken his nose.

Armstrong, however, pointed out that when Michael Liddle suffered a broken nose in the match at Alfreton recently the left-back completed the match.

Armstrong added: “Tyrone has got a touch on the ball first and heir kid bent down. Is it a high foot? Some you get, some you don’t. He might’ve caught their lad but he’s got to the ball first and their player is bent down.

“Six weeks ago it probably would’ve went against us.

“It sounds daft, but you earn your luck and we fully deserved to be in the lead at half-time.”

Given that Kidderminster were last week awarded an extremely fortunate penalty against Farsley, perhaps this was luck levelling itself out.

A mistake by Gregory went unpunished early in the second half, the goalkeeper’s heavy touch being pounced on by Campbell, who was then impeded by the Harriers No. 1 as he shot at goal, but referee Jonny Urwin failed to see the infringement.

Harriers were much improved in the second half without seriously testing Connell for the most part.

Hemmings’ low drive was held by the goalkeeper during a spell in which the visitors had far more of the possession, Quakers unable to recapture their form of the first half.

Armstrong made a change with 20 minutes to go, sending on Thompson for Holness, and with his first touch the substitute gave the visitors reason to be worried, hitting the side-netting from 20 yards.

It proved to be a shortlived reprieve, Quakers soon under pressure again.

Ashley Chambers, very close to signing for Darlington during Tommy Wright’s time as manager, did little last night and was replaced late on as Kidderminster made two substitutions, beanpole Berti Brandon Diau sent on, though it was Justin Donawa who almost scored a header, the effort by Quakers’ sub blocked by Cliff Moyo.

Quakers were soon under the cosh again, but Connell proved his worth once more when he somehow pawed away Oliver Shenton’s shot at point-blank range.

The supporters would love him to stay longer having seen him record three clean sheets in four appearances – Darlington had kept two in 13 games before his arrival – but it is South Shields’ call.

After the match, Connell tweeted: “Just like to take this chance to thank everyone associated with Darlington all the lads, fans and management.

“Absolutely loved my loan time and want to stay but this situation isn’t in my hands. Hopefully something changes. Thanks again.”