DARLINGTON manager Tommy Wright felt that his team should have collected the three points at Alfreton.

Quakers missed several good chances in the second half to win their first away game since beating FC United on September 13.

Nevertheless, they picked up a point that keeps them 13th in the table.

But on the other hand, with Simon Ainge in defence for the unavailable Liam Hughes, they looked strong defensively against a tall forward line, which included former Quaker Reece Styche, and it was only the second time this season that Quakers have kept back-to-back clean sheets.

“We were disappointed to come away with just a point, it could so easily have been three,” he said. “I couldn’t fault the lads at all – on a different day we would have taken our chances and at the same time I think we’ve shown this season that a physical team could have taken all three points against us. We stood up to it.

“We defended heroically all day and played some good football. We created some good chances in the second half that could have won the game.

“We knew that Stychey would be up for the game against his old club, and to keep him quiet for the 90 minutes says a lot for the two lads, Luke Trotman and Will Smith, who stood up to him. As a unit and a team, we defended really well."

Youngster Smith produced another mature performance as one of three centre halves, and Wright is hoping to secure his services from Barnsley for another month.

Wright added: “Will has been a revelation since he came in. Andrew Nelson took the plaudits when he came in because he scored six goals, but when you’re a centre half, it’s harder to make an impact.

"He’s come in, been solid and he’s enjoyed the battle of being in men’s football. He’s won headers and block tackles, and I think he’s got a great future. We’re hoping to extend his loan this week.

“That’s back-to-back clean sheets. Many a fan would have written us off doing that not long ago. We’ve gained a point, but I do feel that we should have picked up all three."

There wasn’t much to choose between the sides in the first half. Neither defence was in too much trouble, although Quakers were more enterprising.

The first chance of the game fell to Styche, who picked up a flick on from Tom Allan on the edge of the box in a yard of space, but sidefooted straight at Jonny Maddison.

Alfreton keeper Sam Ramsbottom looked less than sure with his handling, and when put under pressure by a Williams Kokolo high ball he could only palm the ball and Stephen Thompson couldn’t get on the end of it.

Just on half time, Styche pulled the ball back for Richard Peniket, who flicked his effort wide, and that turned out to be Alfreton’s last real attempt at goal as Darlington were in control in the second half.

Jordan Nicholson, whose forward runs always caused problems for Alfreton, threaded the ball through into Thompson’s path, but the striker pulled his shot wide of the post.

Kokolo, who looked useful at left wing back, then squared the ball for Joe Wheatley to hit a 25-yarder that Ramsbottom saved low down to his right at the second attempt.

The hard-working Nicholson was unlucky with two efforts near the end. Ramsbottom saved a left foot shot at the foot of his post, then Nicholson played a one-two with Thompson and saw a curler with his left foot go just wide of the far post.

“It was a tough game,” said skipper Galbraith.

“We knew what they were about, they’re a good, strong direct team. I thought that we had the better chances to win the game, and we could have nicked the points two or three times in the second half late in the game. On another day, we would have won 2,3 or 4-0. The main thing is, that we kept a clean sheet, so that’s another positive to take from the game.”

“Their keeper had a good game," concluded Wright.

"He’s a big lad, and when he came out, he spread himself well. We had some agonising misses, like the Jordan Nicholson effort at the end, which we all thought was in. There were times when we were waiting for the net to ripple, but it didn’t happen. But we’ll take the positives from Saturday into this week’s game against Spennymoor Town.

“I hope the fans come out in their numbers for the game, I want to make Blackwell Meadow a fortress again. We’ve had some positive results recently at home, and hopefully we’ve won a few fans back. It will be a big game, and we need the fans behind us.”

  • Darlington's home game against Brackley, scheduled for February 2, is to be rearranged because Brackley are involved in the third round of the FA Trophy.

Bookings: Lynch, Styche; Ainge, Saunders, Wheatley, Smith

Referee: Andrew Sykes

Attendance: 648

Alfreton (4-3-3): Ramsbottom, Clackstone, Smith, Lynch, Riley, Shiels, Platt, Sinnott (Johnson 60), Styche, Peniket, Allan (Bateson 65). Subs (not used): Wagner, Nicholson, O’Brien

Darlington (3-4-1-2): Maddison, Smith, Ainge, Galbraith, Trotman, Kokolo (Henshall 75), Elliott, Wheatley, Nicholson. Saunders, Thompson. Subs (not used): O’Hanlon, Hall, Glover, Burn