Darlington's nightmare before Christmas

You don’t always get what you want at Christmas, as Darlington were reminded on Saturday.

A 2-2 draw with lowly Radcliffe Borough was a frustrating missed opportunity, though it could also be considered a point gained bearing in mind a poor first half.

Darlington were 2-0 down after only 20 minutes before showing some fight, two goals from Graeme Armstrong, now the team’s leading league scorer with 12, taking the undefeated run to 13.

His late leveller gave hope to a dramatic though undeserved win, but Radcliffe’s goalkeeper had other ideas, so it ended 2-2 when three points would have put Quakers top of the table at Christmas, a symbolic achievement if nothing else, due to the failure of leaders Northwich Victoria to defeat Salford City.

They drew 2-2 too, so it’s as you were. Darlington remain a point off the top with two games in hand, and Martin Gray did his best to look back on the afternoon positively.

The manager pointed out: “We haven’t lost and it’s another point towards going where we need to get to.

“The Northwich-Salford score played into our hands, but there’s going to be lots of ups and downs between and the end of the season.

“We showed great character to come back and their keeper made some great saves. He was man of the match for me. We should’ve won, we know that, but we made it hard for ourselves.

“We went 1-0 down last week and came back to win, but 2-0 is giving yourself too much to do.”

Darlington’s defence has been a strong point, but Saturday saw them go 2-0 down for the first time and it was also the first time they had conceded twice in a league fixture since September.

With the recalled Jordan Robinson dragged out of position, Sam Cook had space to slot home after a pass by Elliott Rokka to make it 1-0 on six minutes.

And it was 2-0 when Richard Smith beat goalkeeper Peter Jameson to a high ball and headed home after a free-kick, conceded when Ian Watson tangled with Bevan Burey.

It was Darlington's nightmare before Christmas.

“I think it was down to lack of concentration because it wasn’t great play by Radcliffe,” reflected Gray. “We didn’t do one or two basic things right in the build-up to the first goal and we were penalised.

“It was out of character because we haven’t done that at all. I can’t be too critical because we’ve only conceded 13 goals.

“I always say we defend as a team, you start defending front the front at the ball was given away up front for the first goal, which disappointed me.”

Darlington never fully recovered, failing to match the standards they have set while building a lengthy unbeaten run, but with such potency in the team they are always likely to score.

Armstrong pulled one back with a header, meeting Robinson’s free-kick from deep to make it 2-1 at half-time, during which time unused Radcliffe substitute Daniel White was sent off in the tunnel.

Referee Paul Keogh did not take kindly to a frank assessment of his performance, though the player can count himself unlucky as plenty others at Heritage Park shared his view.

“He was very poor for both teams, but I won’t go into the details why as I don’t want to get in trouble. He always struggles here,” said Gray.

With Radcliffe hoping for their first away win of the season, it was Quakers who showed all of the attacking intent after the break.

Goalkeeper Chris Cheetham made several fine saves, flinging himself to his left to claw away an Armstrong header being the best.

Gray switched to 3-4-3, sending on an extra striker in David Dowson, who had a powerful blast saved by Cheetham, and the last roll of the dice saw him give a debut to French winger Nelson Mota. He showed some nice touches and could prove to be an asset.

It was Armstrong who saved the day, however, heading home at close-range, the goal standing despite Amar Purewal impeding the keeper, leaving Radcliffe incensed with Keogh.

Victory was within Quakers’ grasp and in some dramatic dying seconds they came so close to adding a third.

Alan White’s header was saved, Armstrong headed wide and then Stephen Thompson thundered an effort off the outside of the post.

It was not to be. A small band of Radcliffe supporters put the result into perspective, doing the Poznan to celebrate while Darlington were left bereft of Christmas cheer.

They have another opportunity to return to the top on Boxing Day at home to Scarborough.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Cook (7, 0-1), Smith (20, 0-2); Armstrong (20, 1-2), Armstrong (79, 2-2)

Bookings: Lambert (13, dissent); Watson (19, unsporting behaviour); Burey (22, time wasting); A White (46, foul), Jameson (65, time wasting); Mason (87, dissent)

Sending-off: D White (46, dissent)

Referee: Paul Keogh 5

Attendance: 887

Entertainment: ***

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson 6; Robinson 6 (Dowson 64, 6), Hunter 6, White 7, Watson 6 (Galbraith 46); A Mitchell 5 (Mota 68), Scott 6, Portas 6, Thompson 6; ARMSTRONG 8, Purewal 7. Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Cocks

Radcliffe Borough (4-4-2): Cheetham 7; Wedge 6, Lafferty 6, Smith 7, Lambert 6; Howell 6, Mason 6, Sherlock 6, Burey 6; Rokka 7 (Hibbert 78), Cook. Subs (not used): White, Hindle

MAN OF THE MATCH

GRAEME Armstrong – His two goals saved the day