Darlington 3 Histon 1

12 January 2011 00:41
Darlington demonstrated why they need reinforcements as they made hard work of overcoming bottom-of-the-table Histon.[LNB] The 3-1 scoreline belies a scrappy performance, the first half being particularly poor, that was somewhat lacking in the energy evident in Saturday's draw with AFC Wimbledon.[LNB] But the win means Quakers have taken seven points from the last nine available and are up to tenth, eight points off the play-offs with games in hand.[LNB] In the second half of the season Darlington intend to push on and manager Mark Cooper has revealed he is confident of signing an unidentified midfielder before Saturday.[LNB] He is believed to be a 32-year-old former Premier League player, while Cooper still hopes to bring in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.[LNB] The midfielder is mulling over an 18-month contract offer and was not in the side last night following the end of his loan.[LNB] Our team talk was 'you can make it as easy or as difficult a you like', said Cooper.[LNB] I didn't think we were enough of a threat up front, especially in the first half. I didn't think our forwards caused enough problems for their centre-backs.[LNB] You're only as good as your front two but we were a little but better in the second half.[LNB] On potential new players, Cooper added: We'll have at least two players in before the weekend and you could see tonight that we need a forward.[LNB] If Bridge-Wilkinson is not going to sign we are going to need another flair player which hopefully will be agreed and signed by Thursday.[LNB] Cooper could have with a flair player last night as his team laboured through a disappointing first 45 minutes which got off to a worrying start with Histon spurning a golden chance to score in the third minute.[LNB] Striker Omer Riza low blast from six yards was straight at keeper Sam Russell who saved with his legs.[LNB] But Darlington failed to respond with their first shot not coming until the 33rd minute, and even then it was tame effort from outside the penalty area from Jamie Chandler.[LNB] Sluggish Quakers were frustrated by a hard-working opposition and the gulf in performance compared to Saturday was vast.[LNB] But supporters finally had something to cheer just before the break when Aman Verma scored, though his effort owed much to a deflection.[LNB] After Gary Smith won the ball 18 yards from goal, Verma's shot deflected in off Histon player-manager David Livermore who was to endure an awful evening.[LNB] Darlington showed more drive in the second period, controlling much of the play, and got their reward when they made it 2-0, Paul Arnison scoring a stunning strike.[LNB] Keeper Joe Welch darted out of his penalty area to head ball clear, but strikers Tommy Wright and Liam Hatch combined to feed Arnison 20 yards from goal.[LNB] He has made a career as a right-back, but was a striker in his youth and showed all the hallmarks of being a regular goalscorer as he deftly lobbed the ball into the back of the net.[LNB] Last season he was credited with a goal at the Arena, against Aldershot, that only went in thanks to a divot in the six-yard box, but there was no luck about last night's perfectly-weighted effort.[LNB] A two-lead against lowly opposition should have meant the remainder of the game became relatively simple, but Darlington allowed Histon back into it with Antonio Murray scoring.[LNB] He broke through through Darlington's static defence thanks to a one-two with Riza before the Histon number nine side-footed home.[LNB] There were few cheers though as the opposition were followed by few supporters, the official figure announced by Quakers being six.[LNB] But Histon's chances of a comeback ended when Livermore was red-carded for a second booking, a late lunge on Gary Smith.[LNB] The space created by Livermore's 72nd minute exit saw Quakers gain control the final goal came three minutes from time following some nice football.[LNB] A ball out to the left found Aaron Brown whose low cross was dummied by sub Curtis Main and that left Liam Hatch the simple task of side-footing into the net from close-range.[LNB] Goals: Verma (42, 1-0), Arnison (53, 2-0); Murray (61, 2-1); Hatch (87, 3-1).[LNB] Bookings: Wright (55, foul); Livermore (63, foul), (72, foul); Chandler (90, dissent).[LNB] Sendings-off: Livermoore (72, two bookable offences).[LNB] Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside) 3.[LNB] Attendance: 1,489.[LNB] Entertainment: PP.[LNB] Darlington (4-31-2): Russell 6; Taylor 6 (Moore 80), Miller 6, Quinn 7, Brown 6; Arnison 7, Chandler 8, G SMITH 8; Verma 7; Wright 5 (Main 69, 6), Hatch 5. Subs (not used): Burn, P Gray, J Gray.[LNB] Histon (4-4-2): Welch 5, Oyebanjo 5, Okay 6, Clerima 5, Wooton 5; Attwood 5 (Sparkes 59, Stevenson 74)), Mills 5, Smith 5 (Taafe 88), Livermoore 4; MURRAY 7, Riza 7. Subs (not used): Lawton, Dowie.[LNB] Man of the match: Gary Smith Popped all over the pitch and rarely gave the ball away.[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo