Source: Northern_Echo
Advantage Quakers in Wembley mission
Darlington may have taken the advantage after the first leg of the FA Trophy semi-final, but manager Mark Cooper has been quick to warn: it's not over yet.[LNB] Jubilant fans left The Northern Echo Arena on Saturday celebrating a stunning fightback against Gateshead that saw Quakers recover from being 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2.[LNB] The second leg is on Saturday at the International Stadium when Darlington will be backed by a large travelling support hoping for a Wembley final on May 7.[LNB] Cautious Cooper, however, is keen to point out that the tie is only at the halfway stage.[LNB] He said: "At half-time on Saturday Gateshead were 2-0 up but we won 3-2, so that just shows you that a lot can happen yet. We're under no illusions because it's only half-time and there's a lot to do.[LNB] "I've said all along that it's all about keeping the tie alive, which we have managed to do and given ourselves a slender lead for next week.[LNB] "Effectively it's only 1-0, which means Gateshead might want to come out and attack us, but they could get a goal in the first minute and then it'd be back to square one."[LNB] Despite Darlington's bright start to the game, Gateshead went 2-0 ahead with first half goals from Nathan Fisher and Adam Rundle and could even have made it 3-0 soon after the restart.[LNB] Midfielder Kris Gate was unmarked in the penalty area when he side-footed wide, but Darlington were handed a lifeline as Marc Bridge-Wilkinson pulled a goal back on 56 minutes.[LNB] Then came two goals from Liam Hatch to put Darlington into the driving seat.[LNB] Cooper added: "I've said since the semi-final draw was made, I wanted to make sure that we're still in the tie by the 80th minute of the second leg because that would mean we still have a chance of going through and this score doesn't change that.[LNB] "To go four or 5-0 up would've been utopia and I'm sure Ian (Bogie), at half-time, was thinking that was possible while I was thinking 'we could be out of sight here'.[LNB] "But whoever got the next goal was crucial and luckily enough we got it and it was game on."[LNB] Saturday's match was the second of three consecutive games between the sides with Quakers' comeback marking a reversal of fortunes in comparison to their league match last Tuesday.[LNB] Last midweek Darlington led 2-0, only to succumb to two second half goals from Bogie's Tynesiders.[LNB] Cooper said: "We looked down and out at half-time so the players have obviously got something about them.[LNB] "I wasn't particularly over-confident after the first half display and the defending, but we asked for a response at half-time and we certainly got it.[LNB] "I hope Ian Bogie is feeling as bad as I was on Tuesday night because it's not very nice."[LNB] The other FA Trophy semi-final first leg was played yesterday with Mansfield Town beating competition favourites Luton Town 1-0.[LNB] In front of 3,208, Danny Mitchley scored the only goal at Field Mill, where former Darlington captain Steve Foster was an unused substitute. The second leg takes place at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.[LNB]
