Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington 2 Chesterfield 3
Darlington 2 Chesterfield 3[LNB] FOR months Darlington have been desperately hoping for a great escape, and on Saturday they witnessed one as opponents Chesterfield somehow snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.[LNB] Promotion-chasing Spirerites were heading for defeat as Quakers cruised towards a well-deserved three points, two goals up thanks to livewire striker Tadgh Purcell.[LNB] They were looking good for a third too, and so in command were Darlington that manager Steve Staunton felt able to give two of his team a breather by making a couple of substitutions.[LNB] Keeper Shane Redmond had rarely been involved and by the 80th minute had had only one save to make, pushing away a first-half Adam Rundle effort. By the 87th minute he had conceded three goals.[LNB] Funny old game football, so they say. No actually, not really.[LNB] Not when in the space of eight minutes you see your team go from being on the verge of beating one of the division's best sides 2-0, to losing 3-2.[LNB] Chesterfield's first strike was a goalkeeping blunder, the second a fabulous longrange effort and the third an own goal by Richie Byrne.[LNB] It was a remarkable turnaround and evoked memories of Darlington's unforgettable 3-2 FA Cup win over Burnley in 1998. That evening, at Middlesbrough's Riverside, used due to Feethams being unplayable, Quakers overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2.[LNB] However, Burnley had had a man sent off and had been under the cosh, whereas Chesterfield caused Quakers few problems and their fightback came entirely without warning.[LNB] The players are gutted,[LNB] admitted a shell-shocked Staunton. It was about as well as we've played all season and we thoroughly deserved to be leading by two goals, if not more.[LNB] We played some of our best football for the majority of the game, but the game is 90 minutes long. At least we're playing well for longer than 45 minutes, which was the case a few weeks ago.[LNB] I'm not going to single anybody out because I thought they all played well and I think everybody can see there's been a massive improvement.[LNB] We just have to keep going.[LNB] For the most part Quakers were solid at the back, they caused problems up front and they merited Purcell's 27thminute opener, a tap-in after meeting Nathan Mulligan's right-wing cross.[LNB] The second came eight minutes into the second half, this time Purcell seeing a 20-yard free-kick take a fortunate bounce on its way past keeper Tommy Lee.[LNB] The goal was the Irishman's fifth in seven appearances and at this rate Darlington will have to fight off clubs interested in him.[LNB] Soon after his latest goal, Purcell teed up Mor Diop, but he fired wide from an angle.[LNB] Not that it appeared to matter, as Quakers comfortably coasted to victory. Besides, Chesterfield had not scored an equalising goal since August.[LNB] Then two goals in two minutes made it 2-2. It was as unexpected and devastating as that.[LNB] Winger Simon Whaley, on as a sub after signing on Friday, evaded left-back Stuart Giddings, cut in from the right and his shot rolled under Redmond's outstretched arm.[LNB] From nowhere Chesterfield had gained the impetus, Darlington panicked and in attempting to clear the ball Byrne headed it directly to Drew Talbot, who blasted a tremendous strike from 30 yards over Redmond.[LNB] Given Quakers' superiority, a 2-2 draw would have felt like a defeat, but Byrne sealed the calamitous collapse by scoring an own goal.[LNB] The Irish defender, on his full debut and selected ahead of Alan White, attempted to concede a corner when the ball dropped in the six-yard box but instead tucked it ball into the net.[LNB] All concerned were stunned, though Staunton was disappointed with the defending.[LNB] He added: The first two goals were preventable, even though the second was a great strike.[LNB] The first came from nothing.[LNB] Stuart, unfortunately, got caught between positions and their player took his shot early. It took a wicked bounce but I suppose Chesterfield would say our second goal did the same.[LNB] Richie was man-of-the- atch for me but it was probably his worst header of the day, he was unfortunate and got punished. But you've got to hand it to the Chesterfield boy, he struck a great goal.[LNB] It's 2-2 and we're thinking how's this happened' and unfortunately we do the job for Chesterfield by scoring an own goal. I'm not going to blame Richie, these things happen. It was unfortunate.[LNB] He had a great game and there was plenty others who also had their best games for us.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Purcell (27, close-range tap-in following Mulligan cross)[LNB] 2-0: Purcell (53, 20-yard free-kick that bounced into the net)[LNB] 2-1: Whaley (80, shot across the penalty area and under Redmond)[LNB] 2-2: Talbot (81, impressive long range strike that dipped over the keeper)[LNB] 2-3: Byrne og (86, tapped into own net when trying to put the ball out of play)[LNB] Bookings: Byrne (54, foul), Mulligan (56, foul), Groves (85, foul), Madden (90, foul); Rundle (90, foul)[LNB] Referee: Gary Sutton (Lincoln) booked five players but most were justified 6[LNB] Attendance: 2,209[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] DARLINGTON (4-4-2):[LNB] 5 Redmond: Could not be blamed for the long-range second goal, but should have stopped the first;[LNB] 7 Madden: So close to snatching an equalising goal with a thunderous volley in injury time[LNB] 7 Miller: Another impressive outing in which a last-ditch tackle was the highlight[LNB] 6 Byrne: A good display as White's replacement, but suffered a freakish nightmare ending[LNB] 6 Giddings: Whaley would not have scored had Giddings cut out the cross-field pass to the winger;[LNB] 7 Mulligan: Pinpoint cross delivered the first goal and subbed before the late collapse[LNB] 6 Waite: In front of his former Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley, again he held his own in midfield[LNB] 8 Dempsey: Easy to say in hindsight, but should not have been replaced as he was running midfield[LNB] 7Gray: Pace and penetrating runs troubled Chesterfield's right-back;[LNB] 8 PURCELL: Another two goals for the man of the moment. Deserved to be on the winning team[LNB] 6 Diop: Held the ball up well but sometimes looks as though his feet are on the wrong legs[LNB] Subs:[LNB] G Smith (for Dempsey 68): Certainly got stuck in and would be harsh to apportion any blame for collapse 5[LNB] Groves (for Mulligan 78)[LNB] Deane (for Gray 85)[LNB] (not used): Liversedge (gk), White, J Smith, Main[LNB] CHESTERFIELD (5-3-2): Lee 6; Gray 5, Page 6, Breckin 6, Hall 5 (Niven 53, 6), Goodall 5; Green 5 (Whaley 70, 7), Allott 5, Rundle 5; Madine 5 (Boden 59, 6), TALBOT 7. Subs (not used): Crossley (gk), Austin, Artus, Conlon[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] TADGH Purcell can Quakers hang on to the Irish goal machine[LNB]
