Davey angered by ‘defeatist’ Quakers

DARLINGTON had to settle for a point after a remarkable six-goal thriller in which they led 3-0 before Cheltenham Town’s fightback denied Simon Davey’s side victory.

Quakers had scored all their goals by the 27th minute and the relegated side looked good for a third away win in four attempts.

But the Robins took advantage of some fragile defending to pull a goal back before half-time and two more after the interval denied Darlington a memorable win.

Quakers’ collapse left Davey deeply dissatisfied.

“We did well to go 3-0 up but games last 90 minutes, not 27,” he said.

“We pushed the self-destruct button and ended up hanging on for a draw. Their heads went down and the mentality needs to change.

“I have come into the club for the last ten games of the season and this is an assessment period for me. I am not only looking at footballing ability but mental toughness as well.

“There’s a defeatist attitude within the players which I’ve noticed before, even in games we have won.

They started getting lazy, not doing the jobs they are supposed to do.”

Davey’s team may have ended the game grateful for a draw, but Darlington got off to a blistering start by scoring twice in the opening five minutes, with Tadhg Purcell grabbing the first.

Mor Diop ran at a backpeddling Cheltenham defence before picking out Purcell, who side-footed home his ninth goal in 22 appearances with a curling finish.

That was after only two minutes, and soon it was 2-0 when Ashley Eastham put through his own net.

Chris Moore latched on to Alan White’s long ball down the line before passing infield to Purcell, whose pass from the byline deflected into goal off the unfortunate Eastham after a team-mate had attempted to clear.

Robins keeper Scott Brown had to push a Purcell header around the post before the Robins gradually gained a foothold.

Midfielder Matt Thornhill’s 15th-minute shot over the bar represented the first of several attempts at goal, though none troubled keeper Shane Redmond.

He was well protected by a defence featuring the returning Mark Bower, a replacement for Ian Miller, who has a hernia problem.

At the other end, however, an error gifted Darlington another goal.

Diop took advantage of Shane Duff ’s slip and the striker kept a cool head to slot the ball through Brown’s legs to make it 3-0, the first time Quakers have scored three in a game all season.

Duff was immediately substituted, though it appeared to be due to injury, but the goals continued to come and within two minutes Michael Pook pulled one back with a fluke effort.

His attempted cross from the right sailed over Redmond to make it 3-1.

There were no further goals in the half, but a fifth came within 60 seconds of the restart, and it was a reinvigorated Cheltenham who got it.

Winger Josh Low played the ball to striker Justin Richards, who beat two defenders before firing past Redmond from ten yards to make it 3-2.

The goal was a clear sign of intent from a determined team who won 6-5 at Burton last month after being 4-2 down with six minutes to play.

Quakers were under the cosh and the Cheltenham’s equaliser came on 64 minutes.

Midfielder Medy Eliot tapped home from close range after Darlington’s defence was caught napping.

The winger ghosted into the penalty area to meet a pass from Pook whose run into space had gone unchecked.

Match facts

Goals:

Purcell (2, 0-1), Eastham own goal (5, 0-2), Diop (27, 0-3); Pook (29, 1-3), Richards (46, 2-3), Elito (64, 3-3)

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire) 8

Attendance: 2,836

Entertainment: ✰✰✰✰✰

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2):

Brown 5; Lescott 6, Eastham 5, Duff 4 (Gallinagh 28, 7), Ridley 6; Low 7 (Watkins 73), Thornhill 7, POOK 8, Elito 7; Alsop 6 (Hayles 78), Richards 7. Subs (not used): Puddy (gk), Brown, Hutton, Almond

DARLINGTON (4-4-2):

Redmond 5; Milne 5, White 5, Bower 5, Giddings 6; Moore 6, G Smith 7, Dempsey 6, Groves 7; Diop 7, PURCELL 7 (M Smith 39, 6). Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), Madden, Burn, Convery, McReady, Mulligan MAN OF THE MATCH:

MICHAEL Pook – Darlington couldn’t stop the energetic midfielder