Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1
Darlington 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1[LNB] DARLINGTON manager Mark Cooper lauded his side's defensive capabilities after Quakers held Sheffield Wednesday to a draw last night.[LNB] Only a lapse of concentration in the second half prevented Quakers from recording a win against the League One promotion favourites.[LNB] Right-back Paul Arnison blasted home a penalty shortly after half-time after Liam Hatch had been fouled, but Wednesday levelled after a mix-up between Josh Gray and Ian Miller in the Darlington half.[LNB] However, after seeing his side lose narrowly to Premier League Sunderland on Saturday, Cooper is pleased with Quakers' pre-season so far.[LNB] Defensively we're making progress, he said. Going forward we need a bit more but we've played two really good teams in Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday. Ideally you would play against lower opposition at first so you could see some forward play.[LNB] We've had to play against two big clubs and when you do that you're not going to have the majority of the ball so the first thing to do is make sure you don't concede loads of goals which is what we've done in both matches.[LNB] Cooper was without several players with Chris Senior, Gary Smith, Gareth Waite and Kelvin Jack all injured while Tommy Wright limped off with a thigh strain last night.[LNB] The lack of numbers meant a number of youth team players were on the bench while Cooper selected almost the same side as Saturday, with Curtis Main in for Senior.[LNB] He played on the right with Hatch up front and the striker had Darlington's first shot of rain-sodden evening, but Owls keeper Aaron Jameson did well to save.[LNB] It was one of few chances for either side before the break which saw heavy rain turn into a torrential downpour by half-time.[LNB] The game itself was not quite so dramatic, but Darlington kept their shape as the Owls eged possession.[LNB] Soon after the break Quakers went ahead via a penalty.[LNB] Mark Beevers pulled back Hatch in full view of referee Steve Smith and Arnison blasted the spot-kick home.[LNB] After an hour Wednesday made a double change with Jermaine Johnson and Paul Heffernan sent on and within two minutes it was 1-1 with the substitutes combining to create the leveller.[LNB] A Darlington mix-up gave possession away, leading to Johnson feeding Heffernan 12 yards from goal and the striker fired past Russell.[LNB] Then followed a series substitutions which disrupted the game which fizzled to a close.[LNB] Cooper added: We're frustrated we haven't won and I have said a few words to the players.[LNB] We have conceded a sloppy goal so we're frustrated with ourselves but I suppose that's a good sign.[LNB] Quakers' next match is at home to Carlisle on Friday (7.30pm).[LNB] DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Russell; Arnison, Hone, Miller, Werling; Main (M Smith 68), Chandler, Brough (McReady 72), J Gray (Cornforth 74); Hatch, Wright (Moore 46). Subs (not used): Thompson (gk), Hopson, P Gray, Hutchinson, Burn, Baxter.[LNB] SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (4-4-2): Jameson; Buxton, Purse, Beevers (Hinds 78), Jones (Ostemobor 46); Teale (Boden 78), Potter (Moke 66), Palmer (Miller 66), Sedgwick (O'Connor 66); Mellor (Johnson 61), Tudgay (Heffernan 61). Sub (not used): O'Donnell (gk) Goals: Arnison (49, 1-0); Heffernan 63) Attendance: 1,261[LNB]
