Enterprise National League North
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Harborough Town 4-2 Darlington
(Kennedy 9’, Assombalonga 57’, Jacobs 90’, Powell 90+5’) (Stephenson 36’, McLaughlin 39’)
Report – Ben Monti
Photo – Rob O’Brien
Man of the Match – Britt Assombalonga
Attendance – 856
Local lad Michael Jacobs came off the bench to score and assist as Harborough Town maintained their 100% home record with a 4-2 win over Darlington. In a game where both sides landed blows and enjoyed spells in front, it was goals from key players and Mitch Austin’s shrewd substitutions that paid dividends, preserving the Bees’ unbeaten start.
The Quakers came out of the traps looking sharp, showing early signs of their attacking prowess, with Amaru Smith having two efforts on goal within the first three minutes. The winger put his first chance over after connecting poorly following superb build-up play, culminating in target man Mark Beck delivering a delicate pull-back for Smith. The former Carlisle man then cut onto his right, but his second effort was blocked as far as Beck, who on this occasion scuffed his shot comfortably past the post.
A poor refereeing decision from the man in the middle, Tom Durno, added some spice to the occasion as both the home players and fans were up in arms after Ellis Stanton collided with Prince Mancinelli, with both men leaping for a loose ball, only for Durno to whistle for a Quakers free-kick.
Despite the Bees’ slow start, it was the home side who drew first blood, with Britt Assombalonga, on his first start for the club, picking the ball up in the attacking third and driving towards goal on the turn before splitting the Darlington defence with a through ball to Connor Kennedy who, with his first touch, lashed the ball into the roof of the net at Bobby Jones’s near post. The skipper deserves all the plaudits for his rocket; however, Devon Kelly-Evans warrants a mention for winning the ball back in the middle of the park before picking out Assombalonga in the build-up.
The hosts had a wonderful ten-minute spell as the goal sparked life into the Bees. Assombalonga floated a tantalising ball into the box, before Riley O’Sullivan released him down the left channel shortly after. The ex-Congolese international rolled back the years, charging down the left and applying a series of skilful stepovers to earn his side a corner. Sam Osborne then provided Britt with a real goalscoring chance with a delicate chip over the Darlington defence; unfortunately, the finish didn’t match. Osborne also saw an effort of his own from the edge of the D whistle past the upright.
The visitors had a genuine shout for a penalty when Paddy McLaughlin took advantage of a mix-up in the Harborough defence, resulting in Stanton’s long-range attempt striking the extended arm of Alex Morris. Durno, evidently not convinced there was enough in it, played on. The chance signalled a shift in momentum, with Darlington taking control of the game.
Eventually, the Quakers turned the tables on the scoreline. A quickfire double just before the 40-minute mark saw Darlington stun their hosts and take the lead going into the break. Full-back Ben Hedley outmuscled Osborne in the Bees’ box before squaring for Dylan Stephenson to poke past Elliot Taylor. Moments later, McLaughlin curled a sublime effort in off the far post in what appeared to be slow motion to make it 2-1. Everyone in the ground expected the ball, as it gently glided through the air, to miss the far post by some distance, including Taylor, who was rooted to the spot. After the match, Mitch Austin acknowledged, “They shocked us a bit with a couple of quick jabs”, admitting, “There was uncertainty at half time as to whether we were capable of beating these”.
Harborough struggled to find early form in the second half, prompting Austin to make a flurry of changes and give the Bees a second wind. Kelly-Evans clipped a ball forward that was cleared only as far as Assombalonga; the forward, in cool-as-you-like fashion, took a step back before putting his laces through a half-volley that flew in off the underside of the crossbar. An outrageous strike from a man clearly having fun on the pitch. “Britt Assombalonga looks like he is enjoying his football,” Austin said after the game.
The substitutions swung the game back in Harborough’s favour, with Callum Powell causing chaos, as he does, down the left flank and Dempsey Arlott-John firing a sequence of deadly balls into the box. Perhaps the biggest catalyst was the introduction of newly signed local lad Michael Jacobs, who quickly became integral to everything the Bees did going forward.
The Beehive sensed a winner could be on the cards, but it took until the 90th minute for Jacobs to convert from Callum Powell’s fizzed ball across goal, after Jacobs himself had started the breakaway. Minutes later, Jacobs timed his pass to perfection, playing Powell through on goal. The winger held off Sam Hetherington long enough to get his shot off, slotting the ball past Jones to send the Beehive into delirium.
The gaffer, never one to take credit for his side’s achievements, praised the lads, saying, “The boys have worked extremely hard to get that today; we fully deserved it.” Mitch did acknowledge the effect the changes had, however: “Thankfully the subs have made a massive impact.”
Next up for the Bees is an exciting Friday night trip to fellow newly promoted side Hednesford Town, at Keys Park under the lights in what promises to be a riveting tie, despite the Pitmen’s less-than-ideal start to the campaign. The fixture takes place on the 28th before Harborough Town return to the Beehive a few days later on Bank Holiday Monday to face Marine.
Harborough Town (4-3-3) Taylor; Carline, McAuley, Morris, Putman (Walsh 53’); Kelly-Evans, Kennedy, Mancinelli (Jacobs 53’); Osborne (Arlott-John 73’), Assombalonga (Powell 73’), O’Sullivan (Malone 81’). Subs not used: Dolman, Bello.
Darlington (4-2-3-1) Jones; Thompson, Walker, Barrow (Lees 64’), Hedley; Stanton, McLaughlin; Henson (Hetherington 87’), Stephenson (Rutledge 80’), Smith (Bryant 84’); Beck. Subs not used: Mason, Wilkinson.