Darlington 1 Stourbridge 1

DARLINGTON were pleased with a point despite losing their place at the top of the table after being forced into selecting a makeshift defence at home to Stourbridge.

Kevin Burgess suffered a calf strain the warm-up, meaning Quakers were without a centre-back for a fixture against in-form opposition, who boasted two former Football League strikers in Karl Hawley and Justin Richards.

Alan White and Chris Hunter were both serving suspensions, but Burgess’ untimely injury led to Quakers selecting two-left-backs in the centre of defence.

Terry Galbraith and Anthony Callaghan, making his full debut, were called on with Leon Scott, usually a midfielder, playing at left-back.

The timing was not ideal as Stourbridge came into the contest unbeaten in nine fixtures in all competitions, so the result left manager Martin Gray was satisfied.

He said: “Ten minutes before the game Kev pulled up with a slight calf strain. You don’t plan for that.

“The lads that stepped into unnatural positions showed real character and put in massive performances.

“They might’ve played in those positions many years ago when they were kids, but they were playing today against two top forwards that have been in the Football League.

“Stourbridge are the best team we’ve played against this season. They are in really good form and hadn’t conceded an awful lot of goals, so it was always going to be a really tough challenge.”

While Darlington had to deal with Burgess’ blow before kick-off, just four minutes into the contest Stephen Thompson gave them the lead.

He executed a composed finish after breaking into the box following a one-two with Lee Gaskell to score his fifth goal of the season.

It was a deserved goal as Darlington had started the game well, but soon Stourbridge took control and they pinned Quakers back for lengthy periods.

A last-ditch tackle by Scott stopped Hawley scoring at close-range, though the former Carlisle United striker believed he should have had been awarded a penalty. The ball had been loose ball in the penalty area after Peter Jameson had saved Chris Lait’s low 20-yard effort.

Jameson saved again, this time pushing over a dipping drive by marauding right-back Krisitian Green.

Stuart Pierpoint, headed over after Stourbridge’s second corner of a game which saw the visitors benefit from having the wind at their backs in the first half.

They eventually got the goal they had been threatening. It came on 30 minutes, Hawley grabbing his tenth goal of the season when he latched on to a simple pass through the middle and beat Jameson whose goal kick had been won in midfield by Stourbridge.

Jameson went on to be man of the match and one save typical of his day came at the feet of Richards. The striker had only the keeper to beat, but Jameson was alert enough to stop him, while seconds earlier referee Rebecca Welch turned down Darlington penalty appeals when Pierpoint appeared to handle a Gaskell cross.

At the break Scott switched to centre-back with Callaghan reverting to his natural position of left-back for a half in which Darlington rarely ventured forward.

Their attacks were limited with most of the goalmouth action being in Jameson’s penalty area.

Lait looked sure to score, but a low shot was blocked by Jameson and Stourbridge then wasted the two efforts that immediately followed as Quakers struggled to clear.

Jameson also saved from Hawley as the game’s backs against the wall feel continued, a determined Darlington aware that a point would be justified reward for their endeavours.

They almost snatched all three. Adam Mitchell flashed a volley over the bar from 20 yards in the closing stages and from his free-kick substitute Graeme Armstrong headed wide, but in injury time Stourbridge were twice inches away from inflicting what would’ve been a heartbreaking defeat on Darlington.

Substitute Ben Billingham saw a curling left-footed shot drop just wide after good work by the impressive Hawley inside the penalty area, and then Darlington were handed a let-off when Hawley headed over the bar when unmarked close to goal.

For all of the visitors’ possession, they were unable to add a second goal so stay second, two points behind Quakers, with Blyth Spartas now in first place.

“I’m delighted with the performance, even though we didn’t nick a win in the end,” said Stourbridge boss Gary Hackett.

“We didn’t start well. In the first ten minutes we were off the pace and Darlington deservedly went in front, but after that we were in control of the game.”

Of Hawley’s missed free header in injury time, Hackett added: “Karl is a goalscorer and gets into the right place. He’s probably had four good chances today and scored once, on another today he would’ve scored four.

“I’m a big believer that if you keep creating chances you’ll score in the end.”

Goals: Thompson (4, 1-0); Hawley (30, 1-1)

Bookings: Callaghan (47, foul), Mitchell (83, foul)

Referee: Rebecca Welch (Washington)

Attendance: 1,141

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Gibbons, Callaghan, Galbraith, Scott; A Mitchell, Portas, Turnbull, Thompson; Gaskell, Cartman (Armstrong 61). Subs not used: Provett (gk), D Mitchell, Youhill

Stourbridge (4-4-2): Solly; Green, Scarr, Pierpoint, Smikle; Dodd (Billingham 73), Tonks, Broadhurst, Lait (Wright 87); Hawley, Richards (Knight 85). Subs not used: Price, Canavan

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