Source: Northern_Echo
Campbell strikes a chord with Quakers boss Cooper
Darlington may be on the verge of losing one of their star players, with defender Dan Burn heading for the Premier League, but they may have uncovered another gem in John Campbell.[LNB] The quick-footed striker is full of potential, so believes manager Mark Cooper, and he demonstrated a keen eye for goal in Saturday's 3-1 win over Bath City.[LNB] His cool strike wrapped up the points at The Northern Echo Arena, ensuring the contest was all over at half-time, by which point Quakers were 3-0 ahead.[LNB] The opener arrived after only 54 seconds from leading scorer Liam Hatch and he added another on 16 minutes.[LNB] Then came Campbell's second strike for Darlington since joining in January, meaning he now has 27 for the season, including his haul for Newcastle Benfield before Christmas.[LNB] Those 25 Northern League goals were enough to convince Cooper to give the 22-year-old a chance in the professional game and it is one the Geordie has taken.[LNB] His classy finish from 18 yards on 36 minutes, after latching on to Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's perfectly weighted through ball, was his only sight of goal and typical of clinical Quakers.[LNB] They scored with their first three shots, and Cooper said: "It's another goal for John which will give him confidence and we think he will score goals.[LNB] "He's a natural finisher, we've just to get him into a shooting position more often and he's got to be fit to get into those positions.[LNB] "He's technically good, but when he gets tired he becomes sloppy and gives the ball away.[LNB] "We've got to get a good pre-season into him so that he's strong and ready for next year.[LNB] "I don't think he's properly fit, he's not had a pre-season for a long time so it'll make a big difference when we get him up to speed."[LNB] He may have spent recent seasons in Northern League football, despite starting his career in the youth team at Manchester City, but now the striker has a good chance of featuring in the FA Trophy final alongside Hatch, especially as his rivals have misfired of late.[LNB] Cooper, on the verge of signing a new contract at the club, added: "John's scored a goal, which is something the others have not really done recently. He's shown he can score under pressure.[LNB] "With Michael Smith cup-tied, he's definitely in our thoughts (for the the final) along with Nathan Modest and Chris Senior."[LNB] Cooper's failure to mention either Tommy Wright or Curtis Main speaks volumes.[LNB] It is unlikely either will be at the club next season, and the same goes for a number of players Cooper is dissatisfied with.[LNB] Saturday offered another opportunity to pick faults.[LNB] A lack of leadership was the manager's primary concern. That, he explained, was the reason Bath were able to pull a goal back in the 76th minute.[LNB] "I was disappointed with the second half. It was like a testimonial game and we couldn't raise the tempo," said Cooper, whose team rarely needed to get out of second gear during a tame encounter.[LNB] "We didn't have enough drive, we weren't on the front foot to go and get more goals.[LNB] "We got the win and we got three goals, but after the start we had it should have been a lot better. We couldn't sustain it.[LNB] "There was a soft goal conceded due to a lack of leadership. If you've got enough leaders in the team that goal doesn't happen, but we don't have enough winners in the team. I think if Bath had pulled that goal back five minutes earlier they might have got a result."[LNB] Bath, who started the day one place ahead of Darlington in tenth, made it 3-1 through unmarked striker Lee Phillips, who bundled the ball home from close range.[LNB] There was, though, little danger of Bath clawing their way back into the contest, with Quakers' keeper Sam Russell underemployed.[LNB] He did make a fine save in the first half, tipping over a Sidi Jombati header when the score was 2-0 thanks to Hatch.[LNB] The striker's first came after Paul Arnison's right-wing cross was moved on by Bridge-Wilkinson for Hatch to volley home, the second arriving when Arnison whipped in a cross that Hatch headed home from a narrow angle.[LNB] His brace means he has now scored 16 goals this season, five against Bath, including one in the league last September, when Darlington drew 2-2 despite taking a two-goal lead into added time.[LNB] They have improved since then, but three defeats inside the last fortnight means Quakers, now ninth and 11 points off fifth, are resigned to being in the Blue Square Bet Premier next season.[LNB] Cooper added: "In spells this season we've done well and we've got to the Trophy final, but you're judged on your league form and we've not been good enough. We've had too many draws, there weren't enough wins, because we were weak mentally. It's very frustrating but I can't do anything about it until the end of the season."[LNB] Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Hatch (1, volleyed home from edge of penalty area after receiving ball from Bridge-Wilkinson)[LNB] 2-0: Hatch (16, headed home from a narrow angle after Arnison's cracking cross)[LNB] 3-0: Campbell (36, cool finish from a central position 18 yards from goal after being played in by Bridge-Wilkinson)[LNB] 3-1: Phillips (76, tapped in from close-range after his initial shot had been blocked by Russell)[LNB] Bookings: None[LNB] Referee: Paul Graham (Manchester) - There were no major incidents to deal with, not even a booking to dish out, during a tame match that almost refereed itself 8[LNB] Attendance: 1,752[LNB] Entertainment: 2/5[LNB] DARLINGTON (4-1-2-1-2):[LNB] 7 Russell: Rarely tested other than having to tip a Jombati header over the bar before the break;[LNB] 8 Arnison: Involved in two of the goals, almost scored a cracking effort himself and played in three different[LNB] positions[LNB] 6 Miller: Not at his best, though he still did enough to ensure Bath were not a goal threat[LNB] 6 Quinn: Stepped in for Burn and managed to deal with most of what Bath could muster[LNB] 6 Brown: Not as advanced as usual with relatively few of his trademark crosses being supplied;[LNB] 7 Taylor: Played the defensive midfield role and made his presence felt;[LNB] 6 Terry: Steady performance in the middle as replacement for the injured Gary Smith[LNB] 7 Verma: More involved in the final third than of late;[LNB] 5 Bridge-Wilkinson: Bypassed too often in a performance that suggested that perhaps[LNB] he needs a rest;[LNB] 8 HATCH: What would Darlington do without him He's now got 16 goals, five of[LNB] them against Bath[LNB] 7 Campbell: A classy finish from the 22-year-old who demonstrated he could be a[LNB] force next season[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Senior (for Campbell 65): Made little impact during his second-half appearance with a bad touch following an Arnison forward pass costing him a shooting chance 5[LNB] McReady (for Terry 74)[LNB] (not used): St Louis-Hamilton (gk), P Gray, Modest[LNB] BATH CITY (3-5-2): Robinson 6; Rollo 6, Henry 5 (Murray 46, 6), Clough 6; Simpson 5, Burnell 7, Connolly 5, Canham 5, Jombati 6; Phillips 7, Wilkins 6. Subs (not used): Borhy, Mackie, Webb, Lennox[LNB] Man of the match[LNB] LIAM Hatch - two more goals for Darlington's leading scorer[LNB]
