Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington 3 Barrow 1
Darlington 3 Barrow 1[LNB] DARLINGTON'S game yesterday may have been shunned by Premier Sports, but those who did get to see it were treated to a cracking match at The Northern Echo Arena.[LNB] The subscription television channel pulled out of broadcasting the game at the weekend, and they missed an entertaining affair as Quakers recorded a fully-deserved 3-1 win over Barrow.[LNB] For the first time since for four months Darlington scored three goals in a league match and they could have won by more.[LNB] Their performance was a vast improvement on Saturday's display at Fleetwood, when Quakers lost 1-0.[LNB] Mark Cooper's side created a bag full of chances against opposition, without an away win all season, who had a man sent off at 1-0 midway through the first half.[LNB] Even before that point Darlington were in command with Barrow keeper Alan Martin heavily involved, making a string of saves during Darlington's early onslaught.[LNB] His first came after an Aman Verma pass from Quakers' right picked out Marc Bridge-Wilkinson whose volley from the edge of the penalty area was well held by Martin who soon after safely gathered a Curtis Main snap-shot.[LNB] Martin then saved at Main's feet and, from the resulting corner, held on to a deflected Liam Hatch deflected header.[LNB] But having kept his side in the game, the keeper then played a part in Quakers taking the lead on 12 minutes.[LNB] Martin raced off his line in an attempt to cut out Gary Smith's raking pass across field, from right to left, but Michael Smith was first to the ball and, with the keeper back-peddling, dinked the ball into the net from an angle.[LNB] Having recently returned from a loan at Workington, Michael Smith was making his first appearance since October as Cooper opted for a teenage strikeforce with Main also selected as one of four changes.[LNB] Also recalled were Paul Arnison and Jamie Chandler while Hatch returned to defence with Danny Hone now back at Lincoln whom he started yesterday against Northampton Town.[LNB] Darlington were already on top when Barrow's Darren Sheridan was sent off for a late lunge on Gary Smith in the centre-circle.[LNB] It was a harsh dismissal, but referee Richard Wigglesworth showed no hesitation in producing a red card.[LNB] The same official was in charge when Mossley had three players sent off during Quakers' FA Cup tie.[LNB] That day Bridge-Wilkinson scored a cracker from the edge of the penalty area, and he was at it again yesterday, but this time from even further out.[LNB] The midfielder collected possession from Paul Arnison and, in a central position 25 yards from goal, Barrow afforded him plenty of space from which he arrowed a drive into the top corner.[LNB] It was a stunning strike and easily the best of the five he has scored this season.[LNB] His loan from Carlisle expires after this weekend Cooper is keen to keep him at the Arena, though he faces competition.[LNB] Cooper has plenty of targets in mind and hopes to make a breakthrough before Saturday.[LNB] Sam Russell had little other than the occasional spot of catching practice to keep him occupied for most of a one-way first half, though he almost had to pick the ball out of net within seconds of the restart.[LNB] Quakers sloppily lost the ball in midfield and that set Barrow racing away but John Grant put his effort wide of Russell's goal.[LNB] It was a let-off for Darlington, and they almost immediately took advantage at the other end.[LNB] Following a venomous Brown cross, Bridge-Wilkinson's off-target shot fell to Gary Smith whose powerful effort from 18 yards went straight into the grateful keeper' arms.[LNB] A goal in Darlington's favour then would have sealed the outcome of the match, but it was Barrow who struck next with a goal that came without warning.[LNB] The Bluebirds attacked through the middle and from a position 22 yards from goal Louis Almond struck the ball sweetly with the outside of his right boot and watched it glide past Russell.[LNB] It was a fine strike and owed nothing to good fortune, unlike Aaron Brown who restored Darlington's two-goal advantage within two minutes.[LNB] The marauding left-back received the ball from Gary Smith close to Barrow's penalty area and unleashed a low strike that took a heavy deflection off Simon Spender.[LNB] Spender's intervention left Martin helpless, making it 3-1, and it should have been 4-1 when Michael Smith had the ball at his feet in front of goal following a swift Quakers counter-attack.[LNB] Main carried ball forward, of the two options available he had Bridge-Wilkinson to is left the 18-year-old decided to play in Michael Smith but after taking a touch Paul Edwards executed a fine tackle.[LNB] Another chance went begging when the teenage duo teamed up again, this time Main missing.[LNB] Michael Smith crossed from the byline and Main steamed in but instead of making it 4-1 he managed to hook the ball clear from the line.[LNB] But it was not to matter as Quakers closed out the match to take three points that lift Cooper's side up to 11th in the table.[LNB] Match facts Goals: M Smith (12, 1-0), Bridge-Wilkinson (33, 2-0); Almond (59, 2-1); Brown (61, 3-1)[LNB] Bookings: Hatch (45, foul), Miller (79, foul)[LNB] Sending off: Sheridan (25, foul)[LNB] Referee: Richard Wigglesworth (Doncaster) 8[LNB] Attendance: 1,407[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] DARLINGTON (4-3-1-2):[LNB] Russell 7; Arnison 7, Miller 7, Hatch 7 (Burn 90), Brown 7; Verma 7, G SMITH 8, Chandler 8; Bridge- Wilkinson 8; M Smith 8 (Wright, 85), Main 8.[LNB] Subs (not used): Moore, J Gray, Louis[LNB] BARROW (4-4-2):[LNB] MARTIN 7; Spender 6, Pearson 6, Bolland 6, Edwards 7; Rutherford 6, Sheridan 4, Owen 5, Almond 7; Blundell 5 (Goodfellow 58, 5), Grant 7. Subs (not used): Pearson (gk), Jones, Bayliss, Donnelly[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] GARY Smith Made use of the space to pull the strings in midfield.[LNB]
