Late lapse leaves much-improved Darlington feeling defeated

Having had one of those draws that felt like a defeat, Darlington fans trooped away from Blackwell dissecting where their team had gone wrong this time.

Recently they had been underwhelming, but this time Quakers put in a much-improved performance and were seconds away from securing a big win against league leaders Chorley.

Tommy Wright’s team had been pleasing on the eye, even exciting at times, yet the match ended frustratingly as Quakers conceded one of those injury-time equalisers that are always tough to take.

Wright’s side had not looked in too much danger, but then Josh Wilson was allowed to head home, bursting Darlington’s bubble.

After the anger has abated, however, Quakers can be pleased with most of the performance if not the solitary point, which means they remain 16th.

Fundamentally it was a marked improvement on the club’s previous two home matches. They created more chances in the first 45 minutes than they had combined when drawing 0-0 with Southport and losing 2-0 to Brackley.

“The lads have really played well and I can’t fault them for conceding late,” said Wright, who was pleased with his players. “I asked them to give us everything and this set of fans will acknowledge that.

“Hard work is the bare minimum for this club and the lads worked their socks off today.

“I was delighted that they put the game-plan into action. They got a lot of plaudits as they came off the pitch and rightly so.

“We don’t leave with our heads down, we leave with our chests puffed out.”

Wright’s bold rethink had seen five changes to the starting XI plus a shift in formation to 3-4-3, and Simon Ainge returning to defence where he is a greater asset to Darlington.

It has not worked for him as a forward this season, whereas he is at home in defence and was outstanding on Saturday.

Wright said: “He did what Simon Ainge does, he was solid, he won his headers, he was strong, uncompromising, he didn’t take risks and when he cleared it he cleared it big.”

Ainge, alongside the again excellent Will Smith and the returning from injury Terry Galbraith, formed a back-three that protected debutant goalkeeper Jake Turner, who made a good first impression.

On loan from Bolton, the 19-year-old communicated with team-mates, caught crosses cleanly and made a good save in each half; one of them being to stop a powerful downwards header by Courtney Meppen-Walter.

“He had a great debut and probably deserved a clean sheet,” said Wright. “The fans took to him straight away, his kicking was good.”

Wright selected a team with a more attack-minded approach and the pace of Wilson Kneeshaw and Harvey Saunders kept Chorley occupied.

In the first half Quakers were lively, their play drawing applause from fans relieved to see more energy in their side.

Saunders had a header saved well by goalkeeper Matt Urwin, and Thompson was narrowly off-target with a header after a Kneeshaw free-kick, before Quakers went 1-0 up just before half-time on the counter-attack.

Kneeshaw burst through the centre of midfield and exchanged passes with Thompson before beating Urwin from around 16 yards to score on his first start since returning the club.

However, Darlington were unable to add a precious second goal, Urwin making an excellent save in the second half to deny Saunders, tipping over the crossbar when the striker looked sure to score.

Quakers faded as the game progressed, and without any height in the final third to hold the ball up they lost almost every aerial duel to Chorley’s giant defenders.

Wright has been criticised in some quarters for making three substitutions in the latter stages, withdrawing Thompson, Kneeshaw and Romal Palmer, yet they were necessary due to fatigue and injury.

“Wilson hadn’t started a game for four or five months, so he was starting to look tired,” explained Wright.

“Thommo is a concern, he had ice on it after the game and Romal cramped up with 10-15 game to go.”

Before scoring in the 93rd minute Chorley gained possession via Quakers sub Alex Henshall losing possession cheaply in the Chorley half, the Lancashire promotion-chasers sweeping down the pitch and Darlington were not only unable to stop Matt Challoner’s right-wing cross but also failed to challenge Wilson when he waltzed unmarked into the penalty area.

“We had talked about stopping the crosses and runners coming into the box,” said Wright.

“It’s a 30-40-yard run, he hasn’t been tracked and realistically the ball shouldn’t be dropping between the centre-halves.

“When we look back we could probably have done better at stopping the cross and nobody has seen the run. I expect the lads to be winning those headers.

“We should’ve kept possession. I’ve been in that situation, you’re three on two and your eyes light up.

“I actually didn’t think Hensh should’ve released the ball when he did, but that’s not the reason the ball has ended up in our net.

“When we look back on it we’ll see someone should’ve closed three yards here or there, or someone else opened their body up, little things, but that’s the level we’re at and players make mistakes.”