Source: Northern_Echo
Cooper wants new striker by weekend
Brackley Town 1 Darlington 3[LNB] Darlington boss Mark Cooper is hoping to tie up a deal to bring ex-Quakers striker Tadhg Purcell back to The Northern Echo Arena on loan before the weekend.[LNB] Twenty-four hours before watching his side round off their pre-season trip to the south with a 3-1 win over Brackley Town last night, Quakers' boss watched Purcell play in the Cobblers' 2-2 draw with Oxford City.[LNB] Cooper is keen to add another forward to his ranks to provide competition for a front line which already consists of Liam Hatch, Tommy Wright, John Campbell and James Walshaw.[LNB] An offer to take the forward on loan has been made, with Cooper hopeful of getting an answer from both the club and the player before Darlington Middlesbrough on Saturday.[LNB] Cooper watched new signing Walshaw score twice last night, and he believes Purcell would improve what is already a strong attacking line-up.[LNB] The boss said: "He would definitely add to our group, which I think attacking wise is very strong at the moment when you see James Walshaw play tonight and score twice.[LNB] "We've asked to take Tadhg on loan and I think the club and the player are considering whether it's the right move for him, so we'll probably find out before the weekend and hopefully it's good news.[LNB] "We have got other targets, but we'll give that one a couple of days and see if we get a positive decision.[LNB] "Tadhg has said himself he's not match-fit, which he's not. He still needs three or four games. He's not played for a year but we'd take him because I think he'd score goals and I think he's a good football player.[LNB] "I'm certain that we'll get a striker in within the next two weeks which gives us a week or so to get the player embedded in the squad - whether it's Tadhg or another one. We've got to have options in case deals don't happen."[LNB] With seven players out injured last night, including Jamie Chandler who missed out due to a leg infection, Darlington lined up with two trialists for the game against a Brackley side that contained ex-Quakers striker Jefferson Louis.[LNB] Centre-back Dan Madden from Sunderland and central midfielder Dan Elliot, formerly of Nottingham Forest, both put in impressive performances in front of Cooper, who revealed the pair will both be involved against Boro.[LNB] "The boy in midfield has just come back from Ayia Napa on a boys holiday, but he's done really well," said Cooper, who was an unused sub last night due to Darlington's shortage of available players.[LNB] "He'll be coming up with us and training with us for the rest of the week and maybe play a part on Saturday.[LNB] "The other one, Dan, from Sunderland has done well too. We needed to get a few players in because of the injuries, but they've given me a problem definitely.[LNB] "We'll have a look at them during the week and probably the Middlesbrough game too. We're short of numbers and when everyone's fit we've got 17 players, but you need to have 20 so we are three short.[LNB] "We've got players lined up on loans to maybe help us out in midfield, but when you see Greg Taylor tonight - he's an immense athlete and it was an immense performance from him."[LNB] Taylor, who started at right-back before moving into midfield, impressed along with Walshaw, who put Quakers ahead in the 41st minute.[LNB] The former Guisely man did well to fend off a challenge before unleashing a powerful shot which sailed past the keeper at his near post to give Quakers a half-time lead.[LNB] The hosts pulled a goal back four minutes after the restart when former Kettering midfielder Brett Solkhon, who played under Cooper at Rockingham Road, headed past Sam Russell.[LNB] However, Brackley's fight-back was cut short six minutes later when Walshaw claimed his second of the night after he rounded keeper Billy Turley, before slotting home from 18-yards.[LNB] Striker Ryan Bowman, on trial from Carlisle, sealed a second successive win for Quakers when his long-range effort deflected off a Brackley defender and past the hosts' keeper.[LNB] Brackley: Turley; Clifton, Solkhon, Willmott (Magunda 41), Gould; Kemp (Quinn 46), Dempsey (Myles 59), Story (Green 85), Winters; Louis (Diggin 55), Green[LNB] Darlington: Russell (Nixon 75); Taylor, Miller (Lee 46), Madden, Gray; McReady (Ferguson 46), Elliot (Bowman 83), Rundle; Walshaw, Hatch (Campbell 55), Bowman (Wright 55). Sub (not used): Cooper[LNB]
