A LOCAL rivalry has developed between Darlington and Spennymoor Town since they first locked horns in the 2012-13 season, when both clubs were vying for the Northern League title in what was a competitive battle.
Spennymoor had won the league three seasons in a row, whereas Quakers were beginning life as a fan-owned club.
A new era which saw them become familiar with the likes of Team Northumbria, Norton & Stockton Ancients and something called a Celtic Nation...
It was an adventure and became a largely enjoyable one for Quakers, ending in glory by dethroning Spennymoor and winning the Northern League title at the first time of asking.
Since then, both they and Spennymoor have climbed three levels to the National League North. Martin Gray’s Darlington side reached the division in 2016, Spennymoor one year later, and there have been plenty of matches between the teams and talking points along the way.
They face each other again today at the Brewery Field, Quakers’ 11th visit since their first one 13 years ago this month.
It was a sell-out Friday evening fixture, Darlington going into it holding a 15-point advantage at the top, but Town had still not lost a league match and had seven games in hand.
The anticipation was huge.
Gray said: “It’s a massive game for both clubs, but having said that we’ve both still got a lot of games to play. It’s important not to get beat, that’s for sure. You have to be positive and I’m sure Jason will say the same, you don’t want to be losing the game.”
Jason Ainsley didn’t quite say the same, but he did say: “The onus is on Darlington to beat us. If we win, three points would be a massive dent in their challenge, but nothing has been won in February. Darlington have done everything asked of them this season, but hopefully we can halt that.”
Northern League chairman Mike Amos chipped in too, saying the match evoked memories of huge attendances of the 1950s.
“A 2,000-plus gate is unprecedented in the recent history of the Northern League, though quite common in the former glory days of the 1950s,” he said.
“Friday’s game promises to have everything. Both clubs have had marked success, a high-profile and enjoy an enthusiastic and vociferous following. It’s going to be like one of those derby days in the 1950s - an occasion to be greatly relished.”
The sides had drawn 0-0 in a close-fought match in December at Heritage Park, but Spennymoor started the return fixture on top and got a goal via a Gavin Cogdon penalty after 21 minutes. He netted after being tripped by Leon Scott.
Spennymoor looked good for more goals and likely to cut into Quakers’ 15-point lead as Gray’s side froze on the big occasion.
Until Darlington were suddenly back in the game on 31 minutes.
Terry Galbraith picked up possession and thundered home a rasping low effort from 30 yards that keeper Robert Dean had no chance of stopping, levelling the fixture. It was a strike of real quality by a player who would become one of Gray’s first-choice players for years.
The goal’s significance was huge, as it led to Darlington turning the game on its head and the title race firmly in their favour. It was only the fifth time Spennymoor had conceded at home all season. By full-time the tally was seven.
After the break, Moors became a shadow of the side that had previously forced Quakers back, and in the second half it was Darlington creating chances as they attacked down the slope.
Stephen Thompson, another Gray stalwart, was involved in making it 2-1, his pin-point pass into substitute Steven Johnson led to the Darlington man squaring for striker David Dowson to put Quakers into a 2-1 lead with 12 minutes to play.
Although the assist was Johnson’s and Dowson got the finish, The goal owed plenty to Thompson’s vision, and the play-maker was also to thank for Darlington’s third.
Picking up the ball deep inside his own half, he dribbled 70 yards down Moors’ right, shrugging off Steven Richardson, before laying a goal on a plate at the far post for Adam Nicholls to secure the most valuable three points of the season.
There were vociferous celebrations among the Darlington fans who made up more than half of the 2,670 gate, which remains a record for Spennymoor since they reformed in 2005.
Gray said at full-time: “It’s a great night for the football club and a proud night, to come here and beat the league champions.
“They hadn’t been beaten all season and they take some beating, believe me, because they’re a top team.
“We didn’t have a team six months ago and now we’re 18 points clear of the champions.
“Nobody wins the league in February but we’re in a position to really challenge Spennymoor for the title.”
Ainsley was left cursing his side’s failure to build on their 1-0 lead. He said: “The disappointing thing is that we didn’t kill the game off because Darlington couldn’t get out of their own half.
“We were superb in the first half, we got into great areas and knocked the ball about well.
“We got the penalty at the right time, but to be fair to Darlington they were the better side in the second half.
“All credit to them, they’ve turned us over and my lads know that we didn’t compete in the second half.
“I’m disappointed, but to lose one game by February is good going and if we carry on that run we will win the league.”
They didn’t win the league, but Moors did end the campaign by winning the FA Vase final at Wembley, with promotion from the Northern League following 12 months later.
Quakers amassed 122 points – 13 ahead of Moors – to secure promotion to the Northern Premier League, allowing them to move on and draw a line under Raj Singh’s reign of terror.
SPENNYMOOR TOWN (4-4-2): Dean; Griffiths, Mason, Moore, Capper; Walton (Ruddy 76), Graydon, Dodds, Phillips (Rae 83); Davison (Richardson 83), Cogdon. Subs (not used): Ryan, Ellison
DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Bell; Harrison, Brown, Ta it, Scott; Emms (Nicholls 65), Gott (Davis 89), Galbraith, Thompson; Dowson, Purewal (Johnson 77). Subs (not used): Porter (gk), Richardson
Share