Third successive win for Quakers (From The Northern Echo)

Third successive win for Quakers

7:21pm Saturday 26th November 2011 in Darlington FC Match Reports By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Darlington 2 Tamworth 0

Darlington recorded their third successive league win with a hard-fought 2-0 home win over Tamworth today and again Dale Hopson was on target.

The teenager marked his senior debut with a strike in injury-time last week at Ebbsfleet and he did it again today, taking advantage of a goalkeeping mistake in the dying seconds.

With Quakers under the cosh as they protected a single-goal lead, the 19-year-old latched on to a long pass from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, missed by keeper Jonathon Hedge who was way outside his penalty area having been forward for a corner, and showed composure to seal victory.

However, Darlington were largely uninspiring during a first period that began well for the hosts with Rundle hitting the bar after a Hopson pass, but the visitors who kept possession well, playing the ball around nicely and ensured Sam Russell was well-occupied.

Midfielder John McReady cleared an Iyseden Christie header off the line while Russell also saved well from Nabil Shariff after fancy footwork on the byline by Keiron St Aimee bamboozled Ian Miller.

The second half began brightly with Adam Rundle cutting inside and seeing a nicely-weighted pass collected by Hedge just before Liam Hatch could reach it, and the pair soon combined again with Rundle releasing the striker but a bad touch let down the striker.

That swift move began with Hopson showing good awareness to play first time pass ahead of Rundle, and Hopson was was involved in the opening goal too.

This time he played deft pass with the outside of his boot to Rundle who prodded past Hedge for his first goal of the season.

Darlington were in the ascendancy at this point, but they could not force a second goal and Russell was the next keeper in action, beating away Danny Thomas' vicious volley.

Quakers were forced on to the backfoot with the Lambs enjoying causing havoc at set-pieces. Sam Habergam fired wide from the edge of the penalty area and Russell made another good save to stop a Paul Green header at a corner.

In the dying seconds of injury time Tamworth were presented a corner and with it one last chance to grab an equaliser that they will feel they deserved. Hedge went forward, but Quakers cleared and, with the keeper racing back, Rundle gave Hopson the ball and he made it 2-0.

The win means caretaker manager Craig Liddle has now won all three of his leagues games since replacing Mark Cooper on a temporary basis, but the clamour for him to make the move permanently will grow should the success continue.

The team are now up to 11th and are next in action at Wrexham on Wednesday before playing at home to Forest Green next weekend – two games that Liam Hatch will miss due to suspension.

The striker picked up his tenth yellow card of the season during a flashpoint ten minutes from time when players from both sides came together after Hatch had been fouled by Ibrahim Farah.

*Darlington's youth team lost 2-1 to Hartlepool United in the league cup this morning, Scott Mould getting Quakers' goal.

Goals: Rundle (55, 1-0), Hopson (90, 2-0)

Bookings: Farah (81, foul), Bradley (81, unsporting behaviour ), Hatch (81, unsporting behaviour), Chandler (81, unsporting behaviour)

Referee: Seb Stockbridge (Gateshead)

Attendance: 1,752 (48 visiting supporters)

Darlington (4-4-1-1): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Lee, Brown (Sanchez-Munoz 48); McReady (Reach 72), Chandler, Bridge-Wilkinson, Rundle; Hopson; Hatch. Subs (not used): Nixon (gk), Atkinson, Bowman

Tamworth (4-4-2): Hedge; Tait, Green, Kanyuka, Habergham; Shariff (Mills 64), McDonald (Farah 68), Bradley, Thomas; Christie (Patterson 64), St Aimie. Subs (not used): Francis, Barrow