Quakers kicking themselves after letting two-goal lead slip again

DARLINGTON will be kicking themselves despite taking a point at Bradford Park Avenue because for the second time in four days they threw away a two-goal lead.

On Saturday they left Leamington with a 2-2 draw despite being 2-0 up at the break.

Last night Darlington did it again, this time doing so before half-time after Jordan Nicholson had scored twice.

Furthermore, they had a penalty at 2-2, but Stephen Thompson saw his effort saved.

At least Darlington do not have to deal with the ignominy of the opposition having had a man sent off, as happened at the weekend while, unlike Leamington, Bradford are among the promotion chasers.

But the result was still frustrating for manager Tommy Wright, who was annoyed with his team’s defending.

“I don’t think I played for any better teams than us when the lads are at it - some of the football we played was a different class,” he said. “But I’ve also played in teams that wouldn’t have conceded the goals we conceded tonight.

“At the minute we are gift wrapping goals for the opposition. We’ve got teams on the ropes and not finishing them off.

“But I want to stay positive because it is a good result and I think the majority would’ve taken a point before the game.

“When we’re good it’s nice to watch, but when it’s bad it’s really bad from us. We need to find that little bit of consistency and manage situations after we score and settle game back down.”

Bradford came into the contest buoyed by beating leaders Chorley on Saturday, but after just two minutes a fantastic solo goal by Nicholson put Darlington ahead.

He picked up possession in the centre circle and ran through the middle of the pitch, the skilful attacker taking the ball to the edge of the penalty area before curling it into the top corner.

While the perfect start for Darlington, Bradford’s evening quickly went from bad to worse when they lost left-back Danny Lowe to injury.

He scored as Bradford knocked Quakers out of the FA Cup last month, when Wright’s side were poor.

But they looked bright and full of energy at the Horsfall Stadium, and it was soon 2-0.

After good work down the right by Thompson, Nicholson’s fast footwork found a pocket of space inside the penalty area and he tucked the ball into the corner for his fourth goal of the season.

Thompson operated at right wingback, Darlington again playing 3-5-2 with Jonny Burn replacing Alex Henshall and slotting into defence as one of two changes, the other seeing a debutant in goal.

Zach Hemming, on loan from Middlesbrough, replaced the injured Jonny Maddison, and by midway through the first half he was being handed a gentle introduction.

Yet, the 18-year-old debutant was soon picking the ball out of his own net, a goal from nowhere for Bradford handing the hosts a lifeline.

It came after Joe Wheatley cheaply lost possession, Bradford attacked and were allowed to cross from the right, unmarked Oli Johnson heading into the net.

Coming just four minutes after going 2-0 up, Darlington were rocked and within seconds it was almost 2-2, Hemming quick off his line to save from Johnson.

As Darlington surrendered their superiority, Bradford had a couple of good chances to equalise, notably when Conor Branson side-footed wide of an open goal, but they got the equaliser on 40 minutes through Nicky Clee.

The substitute left-back picked his spot and fired hard and low across Hemming and into the far side of the net to complete Quakers’ capitulation.

It was the fourth goal of an entertaining, end-to-end half, and there could have been a fifth as Darlington were handed an opportunity to go ahead just before the half-time whistle.

Wheatley was fouled by Gianluca Havern in the penalty area, but Thompson, who usually blasts his penalties, opted to place it into a corner and Drench saved.

Wright said: “Hindsight is a great thing and Thommo is now saying he shouldn’t have taken it with Jordan on a hat-trick. That’s up for debate, but Thommo is usually such a reliable penalty taker.

“It’s not going for him at the minute, but he’s got to keep trying and he will deliver this season.”

Wright added: “At half-time it was a case of telling the lads to relax, we were back to exactly where we were at the start of the game with a point, let’s keep banging on the door and see if we can get a winner.

“And I thought we were the better team, I thought we deserved to win today. We played some great stuff, but frustratingly we have thrown away a 2-0 lead.”

Nicholson inches away from his hat-trick on the hour mark. He combined well on the left with Luke Trotman, referee Aaron Bannister playing a good advantage, and it resulted Nicholson basting just wide of the post.

Bradford had loud penalty appeals when Hughes appeared to use a hand to block a shot and then Hemming saved from Johnson, the attacking nature of the contest showing no sign of letting up.

In the closing stages Darlington sent on Dave Syers and Henshall, and the ball was agonisingly hooked away from Syers inside the penalty area when Quakers counter attacked in injury time.

Although not winning despite leading 2-0 will sting a bit, the result at least continued the team’s good away record having lost only once on the road this season.