Early goal wins it for Darlington

5:55pm Saturday 9th February 2008

Promotion-chasing Darlington closed the gap on leaders MK Dons to six points thanks to Julian Joachim's first half goal which was enough to beat Barnet on Saturday afternoon, though keeper David Stockdale played a big part in the win too.

With Quakers already 1-0 up, Stockdale produced an excellent penalty save which went a long way to earning him the man of the match vote from the supporters.

The Dons being held to a draw at home to Rotherham allowed Quakers, with still two games in hand on their rivals, to increase the pressure at the top of League Two where victories were scarce this weekend.

Of the teams in the top ten only Darlington and Hereford, who beat Dagenham 4-1, took all three points but there were a few nervous moments for Quakers, especially in the second half as Barnet went in search of a leveller.

But against a team that has recently recorded notable wins at MK Dons and Hereford, Darlington stood firm and for the second successive home game a hard-earned three points were won thanks to an early goal.

Last time out at the Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena against Accrington Stanley, Quakers took the lead after only 29 seconds and again supporters did not have to wait long for their first goal today with Joachim scoring after 11 minutes.

Paul Mayo's long throw into Barnet's penalty area was only half cleared to Joachim in a central position on the edge of the penalty area from where he lashed past keeper Robert Beckwith.

After not scoring on home soil since November, the goal was a fine way for Joachim to get back on the scoresheet and the perfect start for Darlington with manager Dave Penney having made three changes from the side which played poorly in last week's defeat at Wrexham.

Out of the side went Neil Austin and Ricky Ravenhill while Tommy Wright paid the price for his lacklustre performances in recent weeks by being dropped to the bench.

In came Gregg Blundell and Rob Purdie as well as on loan midfielder Bryan Hodge, signed from Blackburn, who almost marked his debut with a goal but lifted his shot over the bar.

A goal then would have made it 2-0 after 20 minutes of a positive Darlington start in which Barnet had rarely reached Darlington's half, ensuring Quakers keeper Stockdale kept his eye-catching new green and white kit clean as he had been barely involved.

Darlington defender Alan White was then involved in two crucial incidents at either end of the pitch. First, his header from a Joachim right-wing cross was well-saved by Beckwith, and then the centre-back was fortunate to only receive a booking when he conceded a penalty for fouling Cliff Akurang.

On the half hour mark Akurang broke into Quakers' penalty area as he chased a through-ball before being hauled down by White and few would disagree with referee Phil Joslin's decision to point to the spot.

But Barnet were stunned when Joslin brandished only a yellow card as White had been the last defender. Steve Foster was close to the incident so presumably that was a factor in Joslin's decision.

However, Stockdale spared his team-mate's blushes with a fantastic one-handed save low to his right to deny Josh Wright from the spot with his second penalty save of the season. The first came in September's 0-0 draw at Macclesfield Town.

Ten minutes before the break Blundell's near post shot was well-saved by Beckwith and in first half injury time Darlington could have paid for missing their chances as they had another scare.

This time Ryan Valentine miss-controlled the ball in the centre-circle, losing the ball to Akurang but the Welsman redeemed himself by racing back to make a tackle.

Barnet threw men forward at the start of the second half, putting Darlington under pressure and creating plenty of chances as they attempted to secure an equaliser and the Bees felt they should have been awarded another penalty.

This time Wright's shot hit White in the midriff, though the Londoners felt it was handball, but they kept on battling and seconds later a great opportunity fell to Neal Bishop however, he saw a shot from within Quakers' penalty area trickle narrowly wide.

In a frenetic start to the second period, Darlington continually failed to defend their goal sufficiently and only another superb Stockdale save kept the scores level.

He pushed away a close-range Akurang volley as a static Darlington allowed the striker to meet a high forward ball eight yards out, and then Albert Adomah's shot rolled wide of the far post.

Penney reacted to the game's change of pace by making a double substitution just eight minutes after the restart, sending on both Ravenhill and Wright with Kevin Gall and Micky Cummins replaced.

The changes succeeded in slowing the game down and restricting Barnet's attacks to nothing more than sporadic forays forward, though Darlington did not look comfortable in their one-goal lead.

Joe Devera burst forward and skipped a challenge before firing over Stockdale's goal, and then Valentine did likewise at the other end as the game began to be played out in midfield with clear scoring opportunities rare.

But in the 85th minute Darlington wasted a great chance to make the game safe when they attacked at pace following a Barnet corner.

With most of the visitors having been thrown forward for the set-piece, Joachim received the ball and dribbled from deep within his own half well into opposition territory where only two back peddling Barnet defenders stood between Quakers and goal, but his pass to Valentine on his left was over-hit and the chance was gone.

There were more anxious moments during four minutes of injury time, but Adam Birchall's low shot gathered easily by Stockdale was the closest the Bees came while Josh Wright volleyed an effort wide of goal.

The result maintains Darlington's good home record over Barnet, a team Quakers have now beaten in five consecutive matches played in the North-East.

But, more importantly, Penney's side now travel to Notts County on Tuesday in high spirits having opened up a nine-point gap between themselves and eighth place.

Attendance: 3,145

Referee: Phil Joslin (Newark)

Darlington (4-4-2): Stockdale; Valentine, White, Foster, Mayo; Joachim, Hodge, Cummins (Ravenhill 53), Purdie; Blundell, Gall (Wright 53). Subs (not used): Kazimierczak, Austin, Miller

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