Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington 0 AFC Wimbledon 0
Darlington 0 AFC Wimbledon 0[LNB] IF Adam Quinn felt any pressure at slotting into one of the best defences in the division then he did not let it show with an imperious Darlington debut.[LNB] Quinn's dominant display in the 0-0 draw at home to topof- the-table AFC Wimbledon banished any lingering regret over John Dempster.[LNB] The Kettering player last week agreed to join Darlington with manager Mark Cooper wanting him to replace Danny Hone.[LNB] Dempster even gave an interview in which he spoke of his excitement at working under Cooper, but Crawley lured him with an 11th hour mega-bucks raid.[LNB] Cooper, however, appears to have come up trumps with Quinn.[LNB] Surplus to requirements at Crawley, he brought an authoritative presence to maintain Quakers' impressive defensive record just 19 goals conceded in 23 games.[LNB] The 28-year-old, whose arrival freed up Liam Hatch to make a nuisance of himself up front, won every challenge.[LNB] Adam was my man of the match, said Cooper.[LNB] He headed everything away, he looked composed on the ball and was playing against one of the best strikers in the league in Danny Kedwell but didn't give him time.[LNB] Signing him was a nobrainer.[LNB] He was captain of Crawley and has played in the play-off final at this level so he knows what it is all about.[LNB] Quinn's play-off final was while with Halifax, a defeat to Hereford United in 2006, and the player says he could reach the same stage with Darlington.[LNB] Quakers are nine points off the play-offs with half of the season to go, and Quinn said: The manager wants to strengthen the squad further, but looking at this performance against the top of the league team, there's no reason why we can't climb the table.[LNB] The play-off final is the biggest game I have played and I want to do it again.[LNB] We're not a million miles away from the play-offs now. It only takes one good run and you can find yourselves right up there.[LNB] Darlington have dropped a place to 12th but could go higher they are at home to bottom-of-the-table Histon tomorrow if they can maintain their momentum.[LNB] Following last Monday's win over Barrow, Saturday was a second consecutive promising display and Quinn helped ensure that goalkeeper Sam Russell had only minimal involvement as Wimbledon were made to look ordinary.[LNB] Darlington were on top for large periods, but Cooper's side missed far too many chances with Curtis Main lacking a killer instinct.[LNB] In the first half he ghosted into a position directly in front of goal to meet Aaron Brown's delivery, but somehow headed off target.[LNB] Early on Main had tested keeper Seb Brown with a low blast from an angle, but it was not until just before the break that Russell had a chance to warm up with two excellent saves. First he tipped over a Christian Jolley drive then palmed away Sammy Moore's close-range volley.[LNB] Russell did well to stay alert, despite being unoccupied for large spells on another chilly day at the Arena.[LNB] The pitch passed two inspections with referee Andy Madley giving the go-ahead in the highly optimistic hope that it would improve as the game went on.[LNB] But Cooper admitted: If it were not for the backlog of fixtures I don't think the game would have been played.[LNB] By the second half, and as the temperature plummeted, the clatter of studs on firm ground became increasingly evident, suggesting that the players would have been better off on ice skates.[LNB] The conditions were probably some of the worst I've played in, said Quinn. I've played in games before when it's been a bit frosty, but the second half, especially down the side of the pitch in front of the main stand, was really, really bad.[LNB] You just had to try and concentrate and make sure you could do your job.[LNB] It was his new team-mates' failings in front of goal that cost Quakers.[LNB] Main volleyed wide after a Hatch flick-on and the teenager also missed another header from Paul Arnison's pinpoint cross.[LNB] Marc Bridge-Wilkinson turned and shot too close to the keeper, while Gary Smith saw an 18-yard effort pushed around the post.[LNB] But too often Darlington failed to trouble Wimbledon's keeper with Aman Verma lashing wide at the end of a Darlington counter-attack in injury-time and in the dying seconds a Verma cross was an inch too high for Hatch.[LNB] I was pleased with our performance, I felt we showed a real energy and drive again.[LNB] We just missed too many chances, added Cooper.[LNB] We needed to stick one of those chances in but we didn't so we only got a point against the leaders even though I felt we deserved a little bit more.[LNB] I'm tough on the players sometimes but when they've played well I'll tell them, and today they put a really good shift in.[LNB] Match facts Booking: Hatch (85, dissent)[LNB] Referee: Andy Madley (Leeds) - Hardly assisted by an indecisive assistant, but made a succession of debatable decisions 5[LNB] Attendance: 2,046[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] DARLINGTON (4-3-1-2):[LNB] 8 Russell: Claimed every cross he came for and produced a stunning save on the stroke of half-time;[LNB] 7 Arnison: Delivered a series of useful crosses, including one that Main should have scored from[LNB] 7 Miller: Kept things together at the back and worked well with new team-mate Quinn[LNB] 8 QUINN: The type of combative centre-back Darlington have needed: imperious in the air and strong in the tackle[LNB] 6 Brown: Lost his footing a couple of times on the icy pitch, but delivered a pinpoint cross for Main;[LNB] 6 Chandler: Collected his fair share of cuts and bruises due to being tenacious as ever, despite the firm pitch[LNB] 7 G Smith: Played his way out of some tight situations in another impressive showing[LNB] 7 Verma: Showed a confidence to play some good football, despite the conditions;[LNB] 7 Bridge-Wilkinson: Again demonstrated how vital he is to Quakers;[LNB] 6 Hatch: Back up front but it was a shame he wasn't on the end of Main's headed chances[LNB] 4 Main: Got into great positions but his lack of accuracy was the difference between winning and drawing[LNB] Subs:[LNB] Wright (for Main 72)[LNB] (not used): Moore Burn, J Gray, Taylor[LNB] AFC WIMBLEDON (4-3-3):[LNB] Brown 7; Hatton 6, STUART 7, Franks 6, Bush 4; Mulley 5, Moore 6, Gregory 5; Jackson 5 (Moore 46, 6), Kedwell 5, Jolley 5 (Nwokeji 46, 5).[LNB] Subs (not used): Turner (gk), Harris[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] ADAM Quinn hugely impressive on his Darlington debut.[LNB]
