Drab draw for Darlington (From The Northern Echo)

Drab draw for Darlington

6:00pm Saturday 4th April 2009 in

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DARLINGTON 0 MORECAMBE 0

On Grand National day Darlington were held to a 0-0 draw in a game in which they were not always at the races.

They were held by Morecambe who recently put together a 12-game undefeated run and proved stubborn opposition at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena.

Darlington had their chances to score, probably the best of the game, with the most clear falling to Liam Hatch before the break and then Pawel Abbott late on.

But the Shrimps had their own scoring opportunities too with striker Rene Howe a particular menace to Darlington's defence.

But neither team were able to break the deadlock, which means Darlington drop a place to 12th although they are still seven points off the play-offs.

Darlington were on top early on, forcing three corners inside the first ten minutes at which they spurned a chance on each occasion.

Rob Purdie delivered each set-piece, with Ian Miller first heading directly into the keeper's hands and then failing to get a clean connection on the ball after rising unmarked.

Danny Carlton, playing against his former club, rose eight yards out but completely missed Purdie's pin-point corner.

Carlton started on the left of midfield, despite the return from international duty of Franz Burgmeier, while Polish keeper Przemyslaw Kazimierczak made his full debut.

But it was Morecambe keeper Barry Roche most involved and he twice saved with his legs midway through the half.

First he blocked at his near post a Purdie effort, and then Roche denied Hatch from close-range when the Darlington striker should have done better.

Strike-partner Pawel Abbott miscued a shot that rolled into Hatch's path six yards from goal but despite having time and space the on loan forward prodded his effort too close to Roche.

Soon after burly Shrimps striker Howe began to become a nuisance, coming close to scoring with an overhead kick that struck the top of the crossbar before being denied what he felt was a penalty.

He ran clear of Neil Austin before falling close to the byline after Kazimierczak's challenge.

Kazimierczak and Austin both felt Howe had dived and referee Darren Deadman awarded a goal kick.

Five minutes before the break Howe was back again, and this time he forced Kazimierczak into his first save. The striker lashed at goal from an angle but the Pole was equal to it and manage to push the ball wide.

In the final minute of a half in which Darlington had enjoyed more possession, Carlton came within inches of scoring when he flashed a shot across goal but it rolled narrowly wide.

Ten minutes after the break Howe did the same, his shot deflected wide for a corner as Morecambe made a bright start to the second period.

They had already earned a corner from which David Artell had headed at goal but Kazimierczak dealt with the chance comfortably.

Most of the second half was uneventful with either side capable of creating chances.

It took until the 68th minute for a half chance to arrive and with it came Neil Wainwright's first contribution on his return to his former club.

The winger had been kept quiet by Austin, making his comeback after a hamstring strain, and his first cross came from the left to the far post where Stewart Drummond headed wide.

Three minutes later came Quakers' best chance with Abbot denied by a wonderful reflex save by Roche.

The ball broke kindly in Morecambe's penalty area for Abbott to lash high towards goal but Roche reacted well to push the powerful shot wide.

With five minutes to play Darlington thought they had won a penalty when Deadman blew his whistle after Artell had handled.

But Deadman signalled that Carlton had pushed Artell so Morecambe escaped, and seconds later they almost scored after Wainwright again delivered from the left.

His cross over Kazimierczak was inviting Drummond to poke it over the line but the midfielder was just unable to reach the ball as it rolled along the goal-line.

In the first minute of injury time Kazimierczak saved a hopeful Garry Hunter volley from 18 yards and there was still time for Abbott to shoot wide after being played in by Carlton.

It was a difficult chance from an angle but a goal would have been enough to inflict to earn a victory that would have boosted faint play-offs.

*After the game manager Dave Penney revealed that captain Steve Foster has been ruled out for the season as he requires a hernia operation which will take place on Tuesday.

Bookings: Adams (31mins, foul), Hunter (80, foul)

Referee: Darren Deadman (Chesnut)

Attendance: 2,560

Darlington (4-4-2): Kazimierczak; Austin (Burgmeier 75), White, Miller, Ryan; Purdie, Ravenhill, Kennedy, Carlton; Abbott, Hatch. Subs (not used): Pocklington, Fortune, Poole, Main

Morecambe (4-4-2): Roche; Yates, Artell, Bentley, Adams; Hunter, Curtis, Drummond, Wainwright; Howe,Twiss (McLachlan 77). Subs (not used): Edge, O'Carroll, Duffy, McStay