Accrington Stanley 2 Darlington 1

DARLINGTON manager Colin Todd was true to his word and made changes for last night’s match at Accrington Stanley but the result was the same: another defeat.

The 2-1 loss was Quakers’ sixth in seven games and leaves them rock-bottom.

Sadly, just like last weekend’s defeat at Lincoln, they could have few complaints.

Aside from a 20-minute spell in the second half after Kevin Gall had equalised Andrew Procter’s first-half goal, Darlington were second best, with slack defending their weakness, particularly in the first half.

Robert Key’s winner six minutes from time owed much to poor marking and it infuriated Todd.

He said: “The winning goal; it wasn’t as though it was quality that beat us. We had players in our penalty area but not marking and that’s very disappointing.

“We didn’t defend at all well and at half-time we could easily have been more than one goal down.

“How many times did one long ball put us on the back foot? We are not defending as a unit.”

It was in defence where Todd had made two changes, handing a start to Rikki Bains, with Matt Plummer moving across to centre-back in place of dropped captain Steve Foster.

Wingers Jeff Smith and Mark Convery also started in a match that saw Accrington backed by a larger than usual attendance as the town and supporters of nearby rival clubs rallied round the cashstrapped club, who must raise £308,000 to pay a tax bill.

Darlington appeared in charitable mood too as Bains almost scored an own goal in the opening stages.

Keeper David Knight tipped the ball on to the bar but Quakers remained under the cosh.

Quakers’ keeper was kept busy throughout and he had to get down smartly to save a heavily-deflected Michael Symes shot. But just when Darlington appeared to have weathered the early storm, on 21 minutes came the goal Accrington had threatened.

John Miles’ shot was spilled by Knight and captain Andrew Procter was on hand to tap home.

Sixty seconds after the restart came Darlington’s best chance of the half. A weak defensive header allowed in David Dowson but his shot from 20 yards rolled wide.

Accrington hit the woodwork again before the break, this time a smart piece of skill by Robert Grant gave the striker the chance to shoot but his effort rebounded into play off the post. Symes repeated the feat so the scoreline remained 1-0, giving Darlington hope of finding an equaliser.

Within four minutes of the restart Knight kept Quakers in the game by tipping a Grant effort around the post before Darlington substitute Jordan Cook changed the game.

The Sunderland youngster’s cross-field ball created the leveller on 59 minutes, ex- Carlisle striker Gall hooking the ball over the stranded keeper from an angle to score his second for the club.

It may have come against the run of play but the strike visibly lifted Darlington. They suddenly possessed a greater determination and began playing with more confidence than they had for the previous hour.

Following a neat exchange of passes on the edge of Accrington’s penalty area Jamie Chandler burst through but fired wide, then Gary Smith shot off target following a goalmouth scramble.

Accrington appeared anxious, with their previously vocal fans falling silent as Darlington threatened to go ahead. But despite their pressure they were unable to create any further clear chances and with six minutes remaining Kee bagged the winner.

He ghosted in at the far post to meet Luke Joyce’s rightwing cross and head past Knight.

Matchfacts

Goals: Procter (21, 1-0); Gall (59, 1-1), Kee (84, 2-1)
Referee: Andy Penn (Walsall) 5
Attendance: 3,228
Entertainment: ✰✰✰

ACCRINGTON STANLEY (4-4-2)

Dunbavin 5; Lees 6, Edwards 6, Kempson 7, Winnard 6; Turner 7, Procter 7, Joyce 6, Miles 7 (Kee 78); SYMES 7, Grant 7. Subs (not used): Martin (gk), Murphy, McConville, King, Riley, Black

DARLINGTON (4-4-2)

Knight 4; Bains 4, Plummer 6, Miller 6, Bower 5 (Cook 56, 5); Convery 4 (Porritt 87), G Smith 6, CHANDLER 6, J Smith 6; Dowson 6 (Windass 87), Gall 6. Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), Foster, Bennett, Groves

MAN OF THE MATCH
 Michael Symes – Dangerous whenever he got the ball