ALMOST two years to the day since being ram-raided at Ramsbottom United, Darlington reversed the 3-0 scoreline with a performance that suggested all is well in Quakers’ defence.
Though premature to definitively say their defensive problems are resolved – Ramsbottom are bottom of the table after all – to see the back four be so resolute was encouraging.
A first clean sheet in five games, coming days after a draw at Ilkeston when the only goal conceded was a penalty, helped put Darlington back on top of the table thanks to goals by Graeme Armstrong, Rob Youhill and Nathan Cartman.
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In 2013 Quakers headed to Ramsbottom when their defence was still a work in progress. Jordan Robinson and Leon Scott had been tried out in the centre where Alan White was soon to be paired with Chris Hunter, and two years on a similar amount of shuffling has succeeded in providing solidity.
After limelighting as a striker, White has returned to his natural home with Hunter reverting to right-back, while Terry Galbraith has replaced Ian Watson at left-back, leaving Kevin Burgess the last man standing from the two Hyde games.
Quakers conceded six goals combined in those fixtures, but White’s organisation and knack of snuffing out danger has shored up a defence that barely allowed Ramsbottom to break into Quakers’ penalty area.
“It was a strong performance and a clean sheet, which is what I wanted,” said manager Martin Gray.
“I wanted to see us get back to winning ways without conceding a goal because we hadn’t had a clean sheet for a few weeks.
“We controlled the game, especially in the second half, we looked strong, we didn’t look like conceding.”
Whereas Ramsbottom did not look like relegation-fodder when they were beaten 2-1 at Heritage Park three weeks ago, on Saturday the club that defeated Darlington in the play-offs in 2014 only occasionally threatened Peter Jameson’s goal.
Graeme Armstrong gave Quakers a 13th-minute lead thanks to goalkeeper Grant Shenton’s howler. Having already seen the keeper deny him in a one-on-one situation, Armstrong pounced after Shenton received a throw-in, tackling the dallying keeper to score his fourth of the season.
With Darlington eager to play forward passes up the pitch, the combative Armstrong won more than his fair share of high balls and from one of his flick-ons Cartman brought a good save out of Shenton.
“We could have had the game put to bed before half-time if we’d taken the chances we created,” said Gray. “We had to be patient and not rush anything.
“We should’ve scored before we got the first goal with a one-on-one that Graeme had.
“I want all the players to work hard, close the opposition down and he put the keeper under pressure to score his goal.”
A rare Ramsbottom chance saw right-winger David Kuba-Kuba get between Burgess and Galbraith after latching on to a flick-on, but poke his effort wide, and the second half was more of the same with Darlington on top and limiting the home team’s attacking.
Gray said: “We controlled the game in the second half. The players had to keep their discipline, keep their focus and in the end we got a couple of goals that we deserved.
“Before the game I’d spoken to a couple of managers of teams who’ve played them recently and they’d said Ramsbottom could be dangerous, they are not as bad as their results make them look.”
After Cartman headed wide following a throw-in, his former Harrogate RA team-mate scored his first goal for the club in his first start midway through the half.
White cut out a United attack, Tom Portas drove Darlington forward with the ball then finding right-midfielder Youhill, briefly on the left, who expertly curled home in off the post.
“I remember him scoring one like that against us for Harrogate from a similar angle,” said Gray. “He whipped it into the top corner and it was a nice finish.
“He got better as the game went on and he put a slot of crosses. There’s more to come from him.”
At 2-0 and the game effectively won, Gray made a handful of changes, seeing White return to the forward line, but it was strike-partner Cartman who added the finishing touch in the final minute.
The goal was crafted by Stephen Thompson, his dribble through the centre of after intercepting a pass saw him play in Cartman and Quakers’ man of the match dinked the ball over the onrushing Shenton for his fifth goal of the season.
“His all round play was outstanding and he put in a massive performance,” added Gray. “He closed down defenders, he picked pieces up off flick-ons and got himself a deserved goal.”
Quakers won without getting out of third gear and they will hope for more of the same tomorrow evening at Skelmersdale United.
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