Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington held at Gretna
Darlington's pre-season campaign came to lacklustre end with a drab 0-0 draw away to Gretna.[LNB] Mark Cooper used a three-man attack and gave a game to trialist former Quakers forward Richard Offiong who played alongside Josh Gray and the returning Liam Hatch but was left to rue his side's lack of penetration in the final third.[LNB] Darlington were frustrated throughout by a Gretna side content to try and contain the visitors. For long periods Quakers were restricted to shots from distance and half chances in a stop start affair.[LNB] Darlington started much the brighter with Hatch looking a formidable target against diminutive opposition. The hosts still hadn't come to grips with him when he was felled by Jardine on the edge of the area with only five minutes played.[LNB] Gray stepped up and saw his rasping free-kick strike the post, it would be the closest Darlington would come.[LNB] As the Darlington long ball became seemingly impotent, Quakers started to link up well on the ground. Gary Smith and Offiong both getting into good positions down the right only to be found wanting with their final delivery all too often.[LNB] Gretna attempted to make the game more physical but in doing so became sloppy in the middle of the park and Darlington's combative midfield started to find time on the ball.[LNB] Paul Terry began to find his way into the game and showed glimpses of the class that has persuaded Cooper to bring him in as he began to pull the strings in the Quakers engine room.[LNB] The Darlington pressure was mounting and an opener seemed inevitable with the Gretna defence unable to clear their lines on several occasions. Jamie Chandler went close first, forcing a decent save out of Connor before Hatch headed a looped Paul Arnison cross over the bar, unchallenged from six yards out.[LNB] The momentum was with Quakers but they couldn't find the necessary cutting edge. When Gary Smith was brought down 25 yards out, he dusted himself down and his free kick seemed bound to finally break the deadlock, only to be denied by Connor at full stretch as Gretna held out for the interval.[LNB] Quakers introduced Chris Senior and Dominik Werling at half time and the latter helped Darlo start the second half much the same as the first. Under pressure from the German, Gretna captain Jardine handled on the edge of the area to give Darlington a free kick. Werling whipped the ball in with venom but Danny Hone could only loop his header tamely over the bar.[LNB] Gretna were offered a rare chance when Hone was caught out by the bounce of a long throw down the right. Cummersky capitalised and switched the play with a pinpoint ball to Errington on the edge of the Darlington box but the left winger scuffed his chance wide of the near post.[LNB] As substitutes began to pillage any flow the official allowed the game, Cooper began to experiment with shape, but bar brief glimpses of trickery from Senior and Moore, Quakers were lacking in invention.[LNB] All of Darlington's threat came from wide areas with Senior and Werling often finding space in behind the full backs. They also found substitute keeper Alex Mitchell in top form though. The young keeper dealing with some teasing crosses with minimal fuss under continual pressure from Tommy Wright who had replaced Hatch.[LNB] Gretna began to abandon their rigid resistance as the game approached its climax and they nearly reaped the rewards. Degnan squirmed his way out of two challenges before his vicious half volley looped off Austin and just over the Darlo bar.[LNB] Quakers could have sealed it at the death though. After more neat work down the right, Senior squared for Michael Smith who looked certain to win the game from point blank range but the retreating Ingles did well to challenge the young forward and earn his side a deserved draw.[LNB] Bookings: Hone (71, unsporting behaviour)[LNB] Attendance: 198[LNB] Gretna (4-4-2): Connor (Mitchell 46); Rea, Ingles, Jardine (Nugent 74), Wood; Rudd (Seggie 68), Cummersky (McKenzie 68), Rodgers (Trestianu 68), Errington (Rayson 57); McMath, Degnan[LNB] Darlington (4-3-3): Russell; Arnison, Hone (M Smith 73), Miller, Austin; G Smith (Main 84), Terry Chandler (Moore 68); Offiong (Senior 46), Hatch (Wright 57), J Gray (Werling 46). Subs (not used) Jack, P Gray.[LNB] By Dan List[LNB]
