Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington defeated at Morecambe
Morecambe 2 Darlington 0[LNB] Darlington's revival stalled today with a disappointing display that resulted in a 2-0 defeat at Morecambe.[LNB] After beating Rotherham and drawing with Lincoln, Quakers were aiming to continue their improvement at Christie Park.[LNB] But a goal in each half from the Shrimps saw Steve Staunton's side slip to defeat.[LNB] The performance demonstrated that Darlington are steadily improving under Staunton, but Morecambe were too easily able to cut through Quakers' defence.[LNB] With both Cheltenham and Grimsby picking up a point in each from their respective fixtures, Quakers have lost ground at the bottom of League Two.[LNB] Nathan Mulligan made a surprise return to the line-up and he almost marked his recall with a goal on five minutes.[LNB] After being teed up by Tadgh Purcell, a powerful rising shot from inside the Morecambe penalty area was saved one-handed by keeper Barry Roche.[LNB] The effort was one of several by both sides during an lively start to the match.[LNB] Just two minutes later saw Purcell have a shot saved the keeper's legs as Quakers replied to Morecambe's early pressure which had seen Phil Jevons denied by a goal-line clearance.[LNB] Following a Morecambe corner the striker's effort from close-range was blocked near the goal-line, but Jevons managed to open the scoring in the ninth minute.[LNB] The former Grimsby and Yeovil forward latched on to a pass from the left and found himself in space inside Quakers' penalty area to slot past Shane Redmond.[LNB] How Jevons managed to evade Darlington defence will have angered manager Steve Staunton.[LNB] The Irishman would have more cause for complaint had Redmond not displayed quick reactions to save from Stewart Drumond on 24 minutes.[LNB] The midfielder rose unchallenged to to meet Neil Wainwright's left-wing cross but, fortunately for Darlington, Drummond's deft header was superbly saved by Redmond.[LNB] The goal rocked Quakers who then struggled to make an impact in the opposition half. Staunton took action by replacing teenage striker Curtis Main, who did not appear to be injured, with Patrick Deane.[LNB] Soon after a low shot by Purcell 20 yards though it was easily dealt with by Roche and within 60 seconds Morecambe had a other chance with Redmond handing the hosts a free-kick.[LNB] He accidentally carried the ball out of his penalty area when collecting a long ball down the middle of the pitch, thus conceding a free-kick on the 18-yard line, but Jevons fired the resultin effort over the crossbar.[LNB] Just before the break came two great chances, one for each side, with Darlington defender Alan White denied by a flying Roche save.[LNB] White, in opposition territory for a corner, met Jeff Smith's delivery but Roche produced a fine save and then Redmond did likewise to deny Jevons.[LNB] The Morecambe forward latched on to Paul Mullin's flick-on which presented Jevons with a one-on-one chance that saw Redmond made a fine low save.[LNB] Darlington had displayed a steady improvement towards the end of the half, but 13 minutes into the second half it became 2-0.[LNB] Paul Mullin did the damage, slamming from close to goal, after Quakers were unable to clear a corner.[LNB] The set-piece, conceded by Madden in trying to tackle Wainwright, was only cleared until the edge of the penalty area and then fed to Mullin.[LNB] Almost immediately an angry Staunton replaced White with Irish defender Richie Byrne.[LNB] He slotted into the centre of the back four, alongside captain Ian Miller, and in dong so became the 49th different player to be used this season by Quakers.[LNB] Mulligan had a headed 'goal' ruled out for offside after the ball was dinked into the penalty area by midfielder Gary Dempsey.[LNB] He was replaced midway through the half as Staunton made the last of his substitutions, sending on teenager winger Josh Gray.[LNB] His arrival saw Mulligan switched to centre-midfield alongside Gareth Waite, giving Darlington a central pairing that both started the season in the skilltrainingltd Northern League.[LNB] With Morecambe two goals to the good, Sammy McIlroy's side appeared content to sit on their lead.[LNB] Following Mullin's goal they did little to trouble Redmond, but at the other end Darlington showed some fighting spirit with Purcell spurning a chance to tee up team-mate Deane.[LNB] To the right of goal Purcell held off Shrimps centre-back Will Haining, but instead of squaring to the unmarked Deane he tried a powerful shot which was went well wide of Roche's goal.[LNB] In the final minutes five minutes Purcell went one-on-one with Roche but the keeper saved and Mulligan put the loose ball straight into the keeper's hands.[LNB] It was a fittingly frustrating way to end the game for Darlington whose attentions now to turn to next Saturday's visit of Chesterfield.[LNB] Goals: Jevons (9, 1-0), Mullin (58, 2-0)[LNB] Bookings: Miller (20, foul), Byrne (70, foul), Mulligan (77, foul); Wilson (90, dissent)[LNB] Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Sunderland)[LNB] Attendance: 1,741[LNB] Morecambe (4-4-2): Roche; Parrish, Haining, Artell, Wilson; Duffy, Stanley, Drummond, Wainwright (Adams 85); Mullin, Jevons. Subs (not used): Davies (gk), Moss, Bentley, Twiss, Hunter, Panther[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Redmond; Madden, Miller, White (Byrne 58), Giddings; J Smith, Waite, Dempsey (Gray 67), Mulligan, Purcell, Main (Deane 29). Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), G Smith, Groves, Diop[LNB]
