Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington do the double over Rotherham
Darlington 2 Rotherham United 0[LNB] A hard-working performance against Rotherham United saw Darlington rewarded with their fourth win of the season today.[LNB] Goals either side of the break from Tadhg Purcell and Gareth Waite did the damage for Steve Staunton's side for whom the victory represented a league double.[LNB] Darlington also won at the Don Valley Stadium on January 19.[LNB] After succumbing to Darlington for a second time in a matter of weeks Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore was highly critical of his team.[LNB] He reckoned losing twice to Quakers was "embarrassing", but for Darlington it is a huge morale booster and one that bolsters hopes that they still have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.[LNB] They are now six points off second-bottom Grimsby and 12 off safety with another home game to come on Tuesday.[LNB] That sees another relegation-threatened side, Lincoln City, provide the opposition.[LNB] After today's win, Staunton is likely to stick with the same line-up for a third consecutive game.[LNB] He kept faith with the same XI today that lost at home to Northampton Town, and that meant Curtis Main again played up front alongside Mor Diop so that meant Purcell was again playing on the left of midfield.[LNB] On 17 minutes he dragged a shot wide from 12 yards after being teed up by Waite, but within two minutes he atoned with a fine goal.[LNB] After a knock-down by Main, the Irishman struck from 20 yards, keeping his effort low to fire beyond keeper Andy Warrington.[LNB] The impressively taken goal was his third in four appearances and already makes him the club's leading scorer.[LNB] It was a badly needed goal too, in order to spark what had been a dull contest into life and soon afterwards Darlington keeper Shane Redmond also did his best to liven things up.[LNB] He caused panic by racing out of his area to gift the Millers a chance. Initially the keeper did well to stop striker Adam Le Fondre bearing down on goal, but then gave the ball to Danny Harrison.[LNB] From near the centre-circle Harrison, and with Redmond desperately trying to get back to his goal, he tried a lob that, fortunately for Quakers, was off target.[LNB] Coming on 24 minutes, that effort represented the visitors' first meaningful attempt, with their next coming two minutes later from Nicky Law.[LNB] The highly-rated midfielder, who has attracted interest from clubs above League Two level, pulled a shot narrowly wide of Redmond's goal.[LNB] Referee Dean Whitestone had enjoyed a largely incident-free first half, but just before the break chose not to take action when Purcell was sent sprawling by former Quakers ace Micky Cummins.[LNB] While jumping for the ball when defending a corner the, Irishman hit the deck after appearing to be hit by an elbow, but Whitestone decided it was accidental.[LNB] The incident was the last of note during the first 45 minutes, and soon after the restart came the another talking point with Waite making it 2-0.[LNB] The former Spennymoor Town midfielder forced the ball home from close-range after Main's ball from the right into the area. Diop tried to score, collected the rebound and fed Waite to give Darlington a two-goal advantage.[LNB] It was his first for the club after what has been an impressive start to life at The Northern Echo Arena since his January switch from the skilltrainingltd Northern League.[LNB] The scoreline stunned the promotion-chasing Millers. Almost immediately they made a tactical substitution, sending on Gary Roberts, and soon Le Fondre had the ball at his feet in front of Redmond's goal. But a superb Ian Miller challenge prevented the 16-goal striker from increasing his tally.[LNB] The game's tempo had suddenly gone up a notch. In fact, it was up several notches compared to the first half thanks to Waite's goal, and soon after Le Fondre's chance Quakers were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.[LNB] While attempting to meet a cross, teenager Main appeared to be pushed to the ground by Rotherham defender Ian Sharps but Whitestone waved play on.[LNB] The referee further frustrated Darlington in the final ten minutes by not awarding what appeared to be a clear corner after Patrick Deane's shot towards an empty net had been deflected wide.[LNB] Purcell's initial effort was diverted into Nathan Mulligan's path, he and Rotherham keeper Warrington collided before Deane pounced on the loose ball which appeared to hit a Millers defender before going out of play.[LNB] Deane and Mulligan had been sent on as subs, for Main and Diop, while winger Josh Gray entered the fray with five minutes to play.[LNB] He was actually on the pitch for twice as long due to there being five minutes of injury time, but Darlington safely saw it out to record a hugely satisfying win.[LNB] Goals: Purcell (19, 1-0), Waite (52, 2-0)[LNB] Bookings: White (13, foul). Main (42, foul); Broughton (75, foul); Madden (78, time wasting)[LNB] Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northampton)[LNB] Attendance: 2,231[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Redmond, Madden, Miller, White, Giddings, J Smith (Gray 85), Waite, Dempsey, Purcell, Main (Mulligan 70), Diop (Deane 61). Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), Byrne, G Smith, Groves[LNB] Rotherham United (4-4-2): Warrington, Tonge, Fenton, Sharps, Gunning, Cummins (Broughton 61), Harrison (Marshall 75), Mills (Roberts 55), Law, Pope, Le Fondre. Subs (not used): Lund (gk), Joseph, Ellison, Taylor[LNB]
