Darlington Chalk Up Boxing Day Win
Darlington’s first Boxing Day home game for seven years was worth the wait as they maintained their promotion charge with a Christmas treat against Scarborough Athletic.
Not since 2007 had they been at home on December 26, and you have to go back to 1997 for when they last took three points in the festive fixture while on home soil.
Manager Martin Gray was still a player himself back then, while most of his squad will still have been schoolboys, and yesterday they gave Scarborough a lesson in being ruthless in both boxes.
Though yesterday’s 3-0 win was not quite as emphatic as the scoreline suggests, Quakers took their chances with Graeme Armstrong bagging twice, while Alan White and Chris Hunter were in formidable form at the back, rarely allowing the visitors’ sight of Peter Jameson’s goal.
Gray was delighted with his team’s win, which leaves Darlington a point off the top with two games in hand.
He labelled it “outstanding” after Quakers saw off the challenge on an in-form team on the fringes of the promotion race.
Scarborough had won their previous five league matches having been rejuvenated under new joint managers Paul Foot and Bryan Hughes, but Darlington’s own run is something special and they go to Farsley tomorrow unbeaten in 14 league fixtures.
Darlington pack a punch with a rare Boxing Day win
AT THE DOUBLE: Two-goal Graeme Armstrong celebrates putting Darlington 1-0 up. Picture: TIM HICKMAN
GETTING STUCK IN: Terry Galbraith stands by as Quakers' Ian Watson slides in on Scarborough's Gary Bradshaw. Picture: TIM HICKMAN
EYES ON THE BALL: Darlington and Scarborough Athletic players await a corner kick. Picture: TIM HICKMAN
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First published Saturday 27 December 2014 in Darlington FC Match Reports
Last updated 10:38 Saturday 27 December 2014
The Northern Echo: Photograph of the Author by Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor
Darlington 3 Scarborough Athletic 0
Not since 2007 had they been at home on December 26, and you have to go back to 1997 for when they last took three points in the festive fixture while on home soil.
Manager Martin Gray was still a player himself back then, while most of his squad will still have been schoolboys, and yesterday they gave Scarborough a lesson in being ruthless in both boxes.
Though yesterday’s 3-0 win was not quite as emphatic as the scoreline suggests, Quakers took their chances with Graeme Armstrong bagging twice, while Alan White and Chris Hunter were in formidable form at the back, rarely allowing the visitors’ sight of Peter Jameson’s goal.
Gray was delighted with his team’s win, which leaves Darlington a point off the top with two games in hand.
He labelled it “outstanding” after Quakers saw off the challenge on an in-form team on the fringes of the promotion race.
Scarborough had won their previous five league matches having been rejuvenated under new joint managers Paul Foot and Bryan Hughes, but Darlington’s own run is something special and they go to Farsley tomorrow unbeaten in 14 league fixtures.
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“It was a strong performance, winning 3-0 against a team that had won their last five games. It was outstanding,” said Gray. “Going 14 games unbeaten is a record for any club.
“I wasn’t happy after the last home game [2-2 against Radcliffe], when I think we were disappointing and dropped two points.
“Today, we were solid and the response to last week was great. Scarborough didn’t really create any chances and we got another clean sheet.”
Armstrong swept home at close-range on eight minutes after a White flick following Peter Jameson’s long punt down the middle. Simple, but very effective.
Scarborough appealed for a penalty, claiming White hand handled, but it was Quakers who looked most likely to score again and a lovely flowing attack involving Stephen Thompson and Nelson Mota saw the latter’s cross find Dowson at back post but there was nobody on the pull-back.
Mota and Dowson were two of three changes, Terry Galbraith being the other, as Gray rested Adam Mitchell and Leon Scott ahead of tomorrow, while Amar Purewal has a slight calf problem.
The changes did not adversely affect Darlington, whose only problems in the first half was the failure to take their chances.
Galbraith screwed horribly wide when Thompson teed up him 20 yards, before Dowson volleyed over on the six-yard line after a White flick.
Gray said: “Purewal has been fantastic all season and to most clubs losing him would leave you feeling sorry for yourself, but we were able to put David Dowson in and he gives you energy.
“Amar’s got a slight calf problem and we hope he will be fit for Sunday.
“We changed two or three players with Sunday’s game in mind. Some players, we feel, do better away from home than they do here, so we changed things around. It was an opportunity to get some fresh legs out there, plus we’ve got two lads coming back into contention after suspension in Gary Brown and Liam Hatch.
“It’s pleasing to get a victory when you’ve changed personnel. Also, it keeps people on their toes.”
After a James Ghaicem free-kick, Alex Peterson headed wide and that was the closest the blunt Seadogs came to a goal during a first 45 minutes that ended with a fantastic tackle by Scarborough’s Dean Lisles to take the ball off Armstrong’s toes just as he’s about to shoot.
Darlington had a couple of half chances at the beginning of the second 45 minutes, Dowson’s header held by Joseph Cracknell, among them, while they continued to defend convincingly.
At exactly the halfway point in their league programme, Darlington have conceded goals in only ten of their 21 fixtures, White and Hunter’s partnership being crucial.
Scarborough’s Ryan Blott did get a shot in on the turn, saved low down by Jameson.
Mitchell came on for Mota, who did not have a huge impact, and soon added the second goal, keeping his composure to tuck home after exploiting poor marking.
Armstrong is owed credit for holding the ball up and playing in the winger to score his second goal of the campaign.
And with five minutes to go Armstrong took his tally to 14 in the league, celebrating after heading goalwards following a corner, though Jordan Robinson claimed it too.
Goals: Armstrong (8, 1-0), A Mitchell (71, 2-0), Armstrong (85, 3-0)
Bookings: Robson (42, foul); Hunter (58, foul)
Attendance: 1,382
Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson, Robinson, White, Hunter, Watson, Mota (A Mitchell 60, Portas, Galbraith, Thompson (Cocks 87), Dowson (Scott 73), Armstrong. Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Pennal
Scarborough Athletic (4-4-2): Cracknell, Plummer, Ridley, Middleton, Lisles, Robson, Ghaichem (Bennett 68), Beadle, Blott, Bradshaw, Peterson. Subs (not used): Skelton (gk), McCaffrey, Stuart, Venner
Match Report Courtesy of The Northern Echo.
