TWO set-pieces won the game at Blackwell Meadows, one of them a fantastic free-kick by Spennymoor Town’s Glen Taylor, but the other goal was preventable, believes Darlington manager Tommy Wright.

Stephen Brogan curled the ball home to give Spennymoor Town a 2-1 lead, the left-back scoring a free-kick conceded by Terry Galbraith on Callum Williams.

While Wright had no qualms with the award of the foul around 25 yards from Jonny Maddison’s goal, what Darlington did next contributed to Brogan’s strike.

“You should setting up your biggest wall on the edge of the box, but it was probably our smallest wall,” said the manager.

“Common sense has to prevail. We had spoken about Brogan’s quality, it needs to be the biggest wall and I think the lads should’ve known that.

“We are talking in hindsight, it might not have made any difference. It was a floated shot and it wasn’t in the top corner, so you’re always going to ask could the goalie have done more? But we win, lose and draw as a team, and we move on now.”

Moors had been second best during a first half in which Stephen Thompson converted a penalty, but eight minutes into the second half Taylor levelled, albeit assisted by a Darlington player turning his back on the shot when closing down the free-kick.

It had been won by Jamie Chandler after a challenge by Tom Elliott.

Wright said: “The goal gave them the kick that they needed, the belief they could actually win the game.

“Chandler bought that. That’s an experienced player who knows he’s got himself in a pickle and conned the referee.”

While Moors are now fourth in the table and Darlington 15th, there was little between the teams over the 90 minutes.

“Neither team outdid the other one,” added Wright. “Two teams came up against each other and nullified each other’s threats really well.

“Everyone had a good game. Defensively they did what was asked of them, we shut out a Spennymoor, a good attacking team that has scored the most goals in the league and let in two free-kicks.”