Darlington held at home (From The Northern Echo)

Darlington held at home

8:38pm Saturday 3rd December 2011 in Darlington FC Match Reports By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Darlington 0 Forest Green Rovers 0

Darlington are depleted yet managed to extend their good home form against Forest Green Rovers today.

They drew 0-0, meaning they have lost once and conceded only one in their last six home league matches, and the result represented a good result in the circumstances.

Injuries, a suspension and an exodus has left the squad threadbare and the situation led to a full debut for two 18-year-olds, Scott Harrison and Adam Reach.

Centre-back Harrison was promoted from the youth team while Reach, a winger, is on loan from Middlesbrough.

Harrison replaced Graeme Lee who epitomised the team's problems by having to start up front and early on he created a chance for Dale Hopson.

Sam Russell's long punt was flicked into the path of the 19-year-old who steadied himself, but flashed his volley wide and Darlington were otherwise blunt in front of goal, unable to seriously test Forest Green keeper James Bittner.

During a tame first half that featured little incident, Darlington shaded the play, but scoring opportunities were few at either end.

A Marc Bridge-Wilkinson free-kick was collected by Bittner just before Lee could meet it while occasionally Darlington were capable of nice passages of play.

Adam Rundle, Paul Arnison and Hopson combined up the right to good effect, while the play was also mixed up with Lee winning more than his fair share of high balls.

But there was little or no end product, while an injury to Jamie Chandler, who suffered a shin problem just before the break, robbed Quakers of their resolve in midfield for a second half that the saw the visitors on top.

They gradually increased their grip and came closest to scoring with two shots within five minutes that hit the same post.

First, right-back Jared Hodgkiss cut inside and unleashed a lot shot across goal that Michael Uwezu edged on to an upright, and soon after Uwezu unleashed a low effort that beat Russell, but also hit the woodwork.

The closest to goal that Quakers came was a long-range shot from Rundle. He collected possession from a quickly-taken Kris Taylor throw and took advantage of slack marking to fire at goal, but his effort was wide.

Quakers' lack of bodies were summarised in the closing stages when they finished with four centre-backs on the pitch – two in defence and two up front with Jonatan Sanchez-Munoz on as a sub.

But there is no shame in being unable to defeat a side tenth in the table and with proud away record - they have lost only once on their travels this season.

Darlington, now 13th, will bid to take some momentum into Tuesday's game at 20th-placed Kettering who lost 7-0 at York City today.

They could be without Chandler who is rated as doubtful, due to today's injury, as is John McReady who was unable to play today due to a back problem.

Bridge-Wilkinson will not play as his booking today was his fifth of the season so he will serve a one-match ban, but Darlington will bolstered by the return from suspension of Liam Hatch.

*Darlington's youth team won 2-1 at home to York City today with striker Chris Dickinson getting both of the goals.

Goals: None

Bookings: Norwood (35, foul); Bridge-Wilkinson (79, foul)

Referee: Steve Martin (Staffordshire)

Attendance: 1,693 (53 visiting supporters)

Darlington (4-4-1-1): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Harrison, K Taylor; Rundle, Chandler (Atkinson 46), Bridge-Wilkinson; Reach (J Gray 63); Hopson (Sanchez-Munoz 82); Lee. Subs (not used): Nixon (gk), P Gray

Forest Green Rovers (4-3-3): Bittner; Hodgkiss, Turley, Oshodi, Stokes; Thomson, Forbes, Klukowski; Norwood (Uwezu 38), Taylor, Rowe (Henderson 58). Subs (not used): Griffin, Graham, Jeffrey