DARLINGTON fans can be forgiven
for feeling a sense of dejavu
after seeing their side rescue
an unlikely point that keeps automatic
promotion hopes alive.
Nine days earlier, a Pawel Abbott
inspired fightback saw
Quakers come from two goals
down to beat Grimsby Town.
It was an all too familiar scenario
yesterday as Darlington
fell behind to two first half
goals.
advertisement
But, this time Dave Penney's
men left it late to get something
out of the game - and this time
they managed it without Abbott.
Jason Kennedy's 84th minute
strike appeared to be too little,
too late, as Quakers headed for
their first back-to-back league
defeats this season.
That was until substitute
Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu's intervention
a minute from normal
time earned Darlington a
dramatic share of the spoils.
And it is a point that could
make all the difference at the
end of the season.
Thanks to Ndumbu-Nsungu's
late leveller, Quakers moved to
within a point of third-placed
Hereford United, who slumped
to a 2-1 defeat at ten-man Lincoln
City.
While the manner in which
Quakers avoided another defeat
will have left many supporters
happy, the bigger picture does
not look so rosy on yesterday's
evidence.
Because, with the exception of
the last six minutes, Darlington
were dire and struggled against
a well-organised Morecambe.
But, having seen his side
show tremendous character to
salvage a point, Penney was delighted
with his side.
"I looked at the overall performance
and I thought we were
fantastic," he said.
"The players have been first
class all season and it could be a
massive point when you look at
other results around us.
"You've got to be delighted
when you come back from 2-0
down to get something out of
the game.
"We did it against Grimsby
and won that one, we left it a little
bit late today to score but the
lads have done very well."
It was hardly the kind of response
Penney was looking for
after Saturday's defeat at
Chester City, but the result
means that Quakers are still
very much in the hunt for automatic
promotion.
"We've nicked a point on the
team above us, there's still seven
games to go," said Penney.
"We've just got to keep going
until the games run out and find
out where we are."
The Quakers boss also revealed
that striker Tommy
Wright's rib injury is not as bad
as first feared and he will be fit
to face Bradford City at the
weekend. He was replaced in the
second half after an accidental
clash with team-mate Gregg
Blundell.
Penney made four changes
from the side that lost at
Chester, one of which enforced
as Blundell came in for hamstring
injury victim, Abbott.
The absence of Darlington's
record buy was felt in the first
half as Penney's men missed
several chances in front of goal.
Kennedy was presented with
a golden opportunity to score
with less than a minute played,
but the on-loan Middlesbrough
midfielder saw his tame effort
from Blundell's cross deflect
wide.
Then, on three minutes, the
recalled Ryan Valentine
whipped over a free-kick and defender
Alan White's volley was
turned over the bar by Morecambe
goalkeeper Scott Davies.
Darlington's profligacy
showed no sign of easing when
Julian Joachim misdirected an
attempted lob with just the
keeper to beat.
Quakers paid the price in the
38th minute when Garry
Thompson opened the scoring
from the penalty spot.
Ashington referee Michael
Oliver had no hesitation in penalising
Steve Foster for his
challenge on Wayne Curtis.
And for the second successive
home game Quakers found
themselves trailing by two goals
as Jon Newby added a second
with a free header from six
yards.
Kennedy's performance was
much better than his display at
Chester and it was his thunderous
volley that smashed off the
underside of the crossbar early
in the second half. He was first
to the loose ball too, setting up
Wright but he headed over.
Penney introduced Ndumbu-
Nsungu on the hour, replacing a
less than impressed Blundell.
Thompson came within inches
of putting Quakers out of
sight when he curled a free-kick
narrowly wide.
At the other end Joachim
brought a comfortable save out
of Scott Davies in the 70th
minute during Darlington's best
spell of the match.
Kennedy handed Quakers a
lifeline with his goal, turning a
defending and shooting past the
keeper from inside the area.
And the comeback was complete
a minute from time when
Ndumbu-Nsungu did likewise,
receiving the ball with his back
to goal before firing home and
sparking wild celebrations as
fans enjoyed another escape.
Posted by: Brian Pope, middlesbough on 1:05pm Tue 25 Mar 08
After watching another late comeback.I was amazed to hear dave penney on radio tees say it was a 1st class performance.They have been 1st class all season.He would be happy if they played that well on saturday.I would think bradford would be the only people happy if they pay like that again.I along with another 3000 and something crowd didnt appear to think it was 1st class.It was atypical home performance of which we have seen many this season.If penney is telling players it was 1st class then we know what the problem may be.I saw 1st class performances when Iwent to grimsby and Lincoln.It certainly wasn't at Rochdale,Wrexham,Mac
clesfield or Bradford.I dont care how we win as long as we do but for dave penney to insult our inteelligence with these statement is unbelievable.Get the players told the truth and get them playing before it is to late.Lets start saturday and hopefuuly not with another of penney 1st class performances but an actual performance the fans cn relate to.We all want he same thing promotion.
After watching another late comeback.I was amazed to hear dave penney on radio tees say it was a 1st class performance.They have been 1st class all season.He would be happy if they played that well on saturday.I would think bradford would be the only people happy if they pay like that again.I along with another 3000 and something crowd didnt appear to think it was 1st class.It was atypical home performance of which we have seen many this season.If penney is telling players it was 1st class then we know what the problem may be.I saw 1st class performances when Iwent to grimsby and Lincoln.It certainly wasn't at Rochdale,Wrexham,Mac
clesfield or Bradford.I dont care how we win as long as we do but for dave penney to insult our inteelligence with these statement is unbelievable.Get the players told the truth and get them playing before it is to late.Lets start saturday and hopefuuly not with another of penney 1st class performances but an actual performance the fans cn relate to.We all want he same thing promotion.
Posted by: Jason G, AYCLIFFE on 1:50pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Well done Darlo for bottling promotion again when we they ever learn? our performances in the last month have been pathetic and for me chester was the final straw. we didn't turn up and were easily beaten by a team who hadnt won in months. penney is insulting us fans as you say brian but i can see another season in this division for us.
Well done Darlo for bottling promotion again when we they ever learn? our performances in the last month have been pathetic and for me chester was the final straw. we didn't turn up and were easily beaten by a team who hadnt won in months. penney is insulting us fans as you say brian but i can see another season in this division for us.
Posted by: Simon, croxdale on 2:52pm Wed 26 Mar 08
Ah, once again the easy option of slating our club rears its ugly head. Its the defining point of the season, all the teams around us are looking for every point and are probably getting a bit panicky. We rescued another point from nothing on Saturday and although our performance was nothing to write home about we still haven't lost 2 games on the spin, the game could have easily turned round had Alan White's volley gone in. They were a decent side buoyed bythe prospect of a potential playoff place following Rotherhams points deduction. We have Bradford and Barnet to play, we must get at least 4 points from the 2 games. Hereford will then be playing catch up to us. As for Penney insulting the fans, personally I think it was a very clever interview he gave with Ray. Do we want a manager thats as doom and gloom as most of our supporters, because if he was we would be mid table at best. Positivity will push us on, it creates self belief and motivates, being negative is an easy option. Isn't this what football is all about, it is meant to toy with your emotions, you would soon be bored if we won every game 1-0!
Ah, once again the easy option of slating our club rears its ugly head. Its the defining point of the season, all the teams around us are looking for every point and are probably getting a bit panicky. We rescued another point from nothing on Saturday and although our performance was nothing to write home about we still haven't lost 2 games on the spin, the game could have easily turned round had Alan White's volley gone in. They were a decent side buoyed bythe prospect of a potential playoff place following Rotherhams points deduction. We have Bradford and Barnet to play, we must get at least 4 points from the 2 games. Hereford will then be playing catch up to us. As for Penney insulting the fans, personally I think it was a very clever interview he gave with Ray. Do we want a manager thats as doom and gloom as most of our supporters, because if he was we would be mid table at best. Positivity will push us on, it creates self belief and motivates, being negative is an easy option. Isn't this what football is all about, it is meant to toy with your emotions, you would soon be bored if we won every game 1-0!
Posted by: Brian Pope, middlesbrough on 8:39am Thu 27 Mar 08
beg to diffr with simon I would be quite happy to be bored o death and win and have a succesful club I'm sure penney and haughton would be glad of same. lot of he im t home this season tht is hat wev had.Its not acase of doom and gloom fns must start to wonder where manager are coming from.Thy respect hm more if thy are upfront and honest about performances.Which he hd been untilmondays interview.As I said we all want success at any cost whether it bores us to death or not.Like you said other teams aound us sem to plyin as bdly as us.But e cant keep relying on hem to do so.We hve to start winning games then our fate is in our own hands.Hopefully we will prevail without any play offs.
beg to diffr with simon I would be quite happy to be bored o death and win and have a succesful club I'm sure penney and haughton would be glad of same. lot of he im t home this season tht is hat wev had.Its not acase of doom and gloom fns must start to wonder where manager are coming from.Thy respect hm more if thy are upfront and honest about performances.Which he hd been untilmondays interview.As I said we all want success at any cost whether it bores us to death or not.Like you said other teams aound us sem to plyin as bdly as us.But e cant keep relying on hem to do so.We hve to start winning games then our fate is in our own hands.Hopefully we will prevail without any play offs.
Posted by: Craig, Darlington on 12:25pm Thu 27 Mar 08
What people seem to forget here is that we still have everything in our own hands, yes we have not been playing well but we are still only a point behind hereford and 3rd with them still to play at home! There are only 3 teams picking up points on a regular basis at the moment, Peterborough MK and Stockport. Dont be all doom and gloom about it. we may be going through a rough patch but nearly every team in the division is in the same position!
Come on, get behind the lads rather than sitting behind a keyboard and slating them!
What people seem to forget here is that we still have everything in our own hands, yes we have not been playing well but we are still only a point behind hereford and 3rd with them still to play at home! There are only 3 teams picking up points on a regular basis at the moment, Peterborough MK and Stockport. Dont be all doom and gloom about it. we may be going through a rough patch but nearly every team in the division is in the same position!
Come on, get behind the lads rather than sitting behind a keyboard and slating them!
Posted by: Adam Walker, London (Darlo expat) on 2:08pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I agree, we need to help not hinder our teams efforts at chasing the top 3 spot.
I live away so I sit at my pc listening to Darlo's games and I'm suffering with everyone else when we play badly, however when I'm next back at home I'll be there to cheer them on because I am a supporter (key word "support" not "slate".
Yes we are poor on occasion but to put it simply this is the best position we've been in for many years and with Houghton in situe we're best placed for the future. We need to give the team as much support as possible to get us out of this horrendous league so that we can start to compete and build in League 1.
As for comments about the quality of football, just be realistic and remember what league we currently play in, help support the team and get us into L1 and then we can hopefully enjoy a higher standard and one day, one day, we may drag ourselves kicking and screaming intop the championship.
Re Hereford. Quote " I would love it, just love it if we beat them" :)[quote]quote[/quote] aWay the lads.
I agree, we need to help not hinder our teams efforts at chasing the top 3 spot.
I live away so I sit at my pc listening to Darlo's games and I'm suffering with everyone else when we play badly, however when I'm next back at home I'll be there to cheer them on because I am a supporter (key word "support" not "slate".
Yes we are poor on occasion but to put it simply this is the best position we've been in for many years and with Houghton in situe we're best placed for the future. We need to give the team as much support as possible to get us out of this horrendous league so that we can start to compete and build in League 1.
As for comments about the quality of football, just be realistic and remember what league we currently play in, help support the team and get us into L1 and then we can hopefully enjoy a higher standard and one day, one day, we may drag ourselves kicking and screaming intop the championship.
Re Hereford. Quote " I would love it, just love it if we beat them" :)
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
