Darlington 0 Morecambe 4

DARLINGTON’S dismal season sank to it its lowest ebb last night as a second half collapse saw them crushed 4-0 at home to Morecambe.

The visitors had won only once on their travels until last night when they embarrassed Quakers who suffered their heaviest home defeat since May 2007 in front of the lowest ever league crowd at the The Northern Echo Arena.

There had been little between the sides during a drab first half, but second half errors led to four Morecambe goals on a nightmare evening for manager Steve Staunton.

He labelled the second half display “unacceptable” and his side have now conceded nine goals in two games following Saturday’s 5-2 defeat at Chesterfield.

Staunton admitted: “It’s very disappointing after the performances we have had of late. But the second half tonight was just unacceptable.

“We need to cut out mistakes, we’ve been saying it every week. Simple mistakes are killing us.

“We’ve got to take more responsibility collectively.

Every time we take a step forward we then take two or three back.

“We’ve got a young bunch of players and they are going to have to grow up pretty quickly.

“Jeff Smith had a couple of chances in the first half, he was unlucky, but the second half....what can you say, it was not good enough.”

Those chances came midway through a truly awful opening 45 minutes which was played at glacial pace with little of note occurring until Smith had two shots at goal in quick succession.

After being played in by the recalled James Collins, Smith dribbled his way into the Morecambe penalty area before seeing his shot beaten away by keeper Barry Roche.

Seconds later Smith’s shot from the edge of the area skidded narrowly wide of the post and thereafter defences remained largely on top, reducing both teams to half chances.

From outside Darlington’s penalty area the Shrimps’ Stuart Drummond and Craig Stanley both fired wide of Nick Liversedge’s goal while at the other end Quakers’ David Davis had a shot diverted for a corner.

At the end of a half almost devoid of quality, Smith worked himself into a good position inside Morecambe’s penalty are but blazed over.

On 56 minute came the opening goal and, given the paucity of creativity from both sides, it was no surprise that it came via a defensive error.

On the edge of the Darlington penalty area right-back Corey Barnes was unable to control Jonathan Hogg’s pass which led to Phil Jevons collecting the loose ball and firing home.

Though Jevons’ strike was hardly merited, Quakers could hardly say they deserved the lead either. A goal, however, was much-needed to add some spark to a miserable encounter. But all it did was kickstart Morecambe and eight minutes later they had a match-clinching second with Laurence Wilson scoring on the counter attack.

Striker Paul Mullin escaped Steve Foster and sent Wilson racing away down the left.

With teenager Barnes out of position it allowed Morecambe’s left wing-back a free run at goal before firing a shot past Liversedge.

Liversedge pulled off a smart save from Mullin, but on 79 minutes came the third goal and again dire defending gifted Morecambe the strike.

Stanley’s free-kick appeared harmless but it reached the far post where an unmarked Drummond stabbed home and with five minutes to go Liversedge capped off an horrendous evening in fitting style.

He completely mis-kicked and could only watch as sub Wayne Curtis dribbled towards an empty net.

The fourth goal completed the rout which means Quakers’ are now eight points off third bottom Torquay United.

■ Staunton has a French player on trial and he last night confirmed Jamie Chandler’s loan from Sunderland has been terminated to free up space for a new player.

Matchfacts

Goals: Jevons (56, 0-1), Wilson (64, 0-2), Drummond (80, 0-3), Curtis (85, 0-4)
Bookings: Barnes (15, foul); Haining (73, dissent); Collins (73, dissent)
Referee: Karl Evans (Manchester) 7
Attendance: 1,698
Entertainment: ✰✰

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Liversedge 4, Barnes 4, Foster 4, Miller 4, Giddings 5; Mulligan 4 (Gray 65, 5), Davis 4 (Groves 65, 5), HOGG 6, J Smith 4; Thomas 4 (Diop 58), Collins 5. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Bower, G Smith, Main

MORECAMBE (3-5-2): Roche 6; Parrish 6, Artell 6, Haining 5; Hunter 6 (Duffy 81), Twiss 7 (Wainwright 83), Drummond 7, Stanley 7, WILSON 7; Jevons 7, Mullin 7 (Curtis 80). Subs (not used): Davies (gk), Moss, Taylor, McStay

MAN OF THE MATCH
LAURENCE Wilson – the wing-back scored and gave Barnes a tough time