DARLINGTON can’t wait for the arrival of Reece Styche after they failed to take their chances in the 1-0 home defeat by Tamworth on Saturday.

Styche will formally complete his transfer from Saturday’s opponents this morning, and from his place on the balcony, he must have thought that he would have taken at least two of the opportunities that came to Quakers in front of goal.

And unfortunately, a better defensive display was marred by a 72nd minute breakaway goal that grabbed the visitors all three points.

“That was a smash and grab game, but that’s football,” said manager Tommy Wright. “I’ve come to Darlington as an opposing manager and won, so I know how hard it is to walk away from here with three points. Tamworth must be absolutely delighted with themselves.

“I thought we were bright, but we weren’t quite there in terms of being clinical. That’s why I’ve worked so hard in bringing Reece to the club, and I do think that he’ll make a massive impact on the rest of our season. He’ll give everyone a huge lift and he’s chomping at the bit. If he’d played on Saturday, he would definitely have scored.

“The performance was pleasing, and I was gutted for the lads that they didn’t get anything from that game. We created multiple chances, and I don’t know how the ball stayed out in the end.

“I’m quite proud of the performance we’ve dished up, and I think the supporters will be as well, because they can see the change that’s happening. There are new faces coming in, and there’s a different brand of football. Some of our football was outstanding. It was good to see.

“We were a lot tighter defensively, and we experimented a little bit by playing Stephen Thompson as a left wing back which I don’t think many people saw coming. I thought there were some really good individual performances.

“I know what shape I want to play. We decided to go a little more attacking at home, and I was genuinely happy with the team performance.”

Quakers skipper Gary Brown said; “I thought we played well, but we need to pick up three points from these sort of games. We created two or three clear cut chances – Reece Styche will be a massive lift for us.”

Stephen Thompson’s new role as a left wing back seemed to give him more freedom, and he was prominent for Quakers in the first half.

David Syers nodded down his left wing cross for James Caton to have an effort deflected over the bar, then on 9 minutes Brown’s long throw from the right fell for Josh Gillies, who put a good effort over the top from ten yards.

A good diagonal run by Thompson from the left saw him set up Caton on the edge of the box but his drive was blocked, then Thompson, from a more central position, fired a 25 yarder just wide.

Luke Trotman, playing at right wing back, showed his ability by crossing well for Syers to head over from a few yards.

Tamworth had their only chance in the first half when Darryl Knights curled an effort wide from the edge of the box just before half time.

Quakers again had more possession in the second half and the chances continued to come. A surging run by Syers from midfield saw him set up Greg Mills on the left, and his low drive was saved by keeper Shaun Rowley at his near post.

Thompson seemed the most likely to break the deadlock, and he was denied by a full length save by Rowley from his low 25 yarder after he’d moved inside from the left.

It seemed as if a goal was eventually coming, but unfortunately it arrived at the other end. Mills’ attempted cross from the left was charged down by Ellis Deeney, and he sprinted up the right and set up Knights, who ran through and beat Ed Wilczynski with a low left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Quakers could have salvaged a point, but as before they couldn’t finish in front of goal. Joe Wheatley was unfortunate with a delightful 25-yard free kick that went over the wall and struck the crossbar, while Rowley made a great save from a Saunders header from a right wing corner, and in stoppage time Syers put a close range effort over the top.

While one striker arrives at Quakers, another one departs because Nathan Cartman signed for EvoStik League club Farsley Celtic on Saturday morning.

Cartman, who scored 36 goals in 121 appearances since his arrival in January 2015, wrote on social media: “I have spent almost three years of my footballing career at Darlington and the support from the supporters has always been superb.

“I have loved every minute of my time here. My time with Darlington is now at an end and the club has accepted an offer for me. I now move on to a new challenge that I am looking forward to. To get back amongst the goals and do what I do best. I will always have Darlington and the supporters close to my heart and hopefully one day I will get the chance to play in front of you again, although as an opposition player.”

Darlington 0 Tamworth 1.

Goal: Knights 72.

Teams: Darlington: Wilczynski, Trotman, Galbraith, Wheatley, Collins, Brown, Mills, Syers, Caton, Gillies (sub Saunders 78), Thompson.

Subs not used: Scott, Bancroft, Portas, Heaton.

Bookings: Syers, Thompson, Wheatley.

Tamworth: Rowley, Burns, Morley, Deeney, Jones, Lane, Upton, Fox, Reid (sub Taylor 69), Verma, Knights (sub Powell 81).

Subs: Coulson, Shaw, Hayden.

Bookings: Upton, Burns.

Attendance: 1,246.

Referee: Dean Hulme.