PLYMOUTH might be six points clear at the top of Division Three, be unbeaten for 19 games and have the best defensive record in the Legaue, but Darlington's Ian Clark remains unimpressed.

The recent signing from Hartlepool has made the move from Quakers' fierce rivals in style, netting two goals in four League outings for Tommy Taylor's side, and he admits he was underwhelmed by Paul Sturrock's team.

"The two centre-halfs, Caldwell and Brightwell, said it was quite easy for them, they felt they weren't under too much pressure and I thought they were outstanding," he said.

"I can't see why they're unbeaten in 19 matches. They're top of the league and we're decimated with injuries and suspensions and we've matched them. It just goes to show you that we'll have a hell of a squad and a hell of a team when everybody's back.

"Until they scored they never had a proper shot at goal. When you come to a top of the league side you expect to be pegged back and we were the ones who created the better chances."

In truth Quakers never really looked like scoring at Home Park, their best chances falling to Clark who admitted he could have done better.

Clark, who played left midfield as Richard Hodgson dropped to the bench, explained: "I had a couple of chances when I should have hit the target, I'm disappointed with myself.

"I don't think we deserved to win but we frustrated them and we created a couple of chances but they didn't deserve to come away with the three points.

"The lads are disappointed because we've played well at the top of the league team and come away with nothing and then you've got an eight-hour journey home."

Plymouth deserved no more than a point, whereas Quakers' non-stop commitment and determination to grind-out a result warranted at least a draw.

Although the game produced the expected result, it rarely read from the script of division leaders hosting a team with as poor an away record as Darlington's.

A frustrated Tommy Taylor was annoyed with the way his team conceded, especially as his tactics had almost paid-off.

"Plymouth don't give a lot away; they keep it fairly tight and don't leave a lot of space behind them. We tried to play a one-two in between the half-way line and their penalty area, they cut it out and counter-attack which leaves us with a big hole," he said.

"Three defenders go towards the ball, Betts has given it away, we've paid for one mistake.

"Our tactics were right, most things were right about us, but we just didn't score the goal we needed.

"We did alright, we had better chances to score goals than they did, Ian Clark had two good chances."

Late in the game, before Plymouth scored, Taylor took off his two attackers and replaced them with midfielders Paul Campbell and Neil Maddison, and Taylor admitted he wanted to use Maddison's defensive qualities.

A dire opening half never accelerated past walking pace with neither side looked capable of scoring; each chalked-up only one shot on target.

It took 15 minutes before the day's first shot, but on a bitterly cold afternoon it was a ballboy whose fingers were warmed as Ian Clark's volley curled wide, much to the dismay of the 83 travelling fans. And that was it for the half.

The second period was more entertaining, but, again, chances were at a premium.

On 57 minutes Simon Betts was the unfortunate victim on the receiving end of referee Mark Cooper's confusing display as he booked the full-back for a foul on David Friio. And nine minutes later the Walsall whistle-blower was up to his yellow cards tricks again as he harshly booked Marino Keith for upending Betts.

Clark's chances came within four minutes of each other, the first in the 58th minute following Chillingworth's flick-on which fell to Clark at the far post. But after cutting inside cleverly, he shot wide.

Clark was presented with an even better chance to score his third goal in a Darlington shirt when Neil Wainwright crossed with his left-foot which found the former Hartlepool man ten yards from goal but, under pressure, his effort was deflected for a corner.

Like two boxers, Darlington and Plymouth never looked like producing a knock-out blow until Blair Sturrock set-up Friio who carefully dinked the ball over Collett from ten yards.

The goal came out of the blue and was harsh on Darlington as they paid for an error much further up the field. Betts saw his pass intercepted near Argyle's penalty area and the hosts steamed forward and capitalised on the space created by Betts' forward excursion to score.

Minutes later the game was over as loan signing Gary Caldwell received Darlington's sixth red card of the season.

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