Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington settle for a draw
Darlington had to settle for a goalless draw against AFC Wimbledon having spurned chance after chance against top-of-the-table opposition.[LNB] Curtis Main was the main culprit, getting into good positions but being being off-target with two close-range headers as well as a volley, as Quakers failed to turn possession into goals.[LNB] They were on top for the majority of a game played on an icy surface at The Northern Echo Arena which passed two morning inspections.[LNB] Despite the conditions both sides tried to play football with Quakers first to make an impression.[LNB] Main slipped in the penalty area, under a challenge by Jamie Stuart, before the teenager flashed a drive that arrowed towards goal before being palmed away by keeper Seb Brown.[LNB] Darlington continued to press with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's corner almost being turned in by Gary Smith who saw his effort cleared by a defender close to the goal-line[LNB] Main's first gilt-edged chance came just after the half-hour mark, missing with a header.[LNB] It came after a corner - awarded after a long-range Verma effort was deflected wide with Aaron Brown chipping in a lovely ball but even though Main ghosted past the Dons defence his close-range header was off target.[LNB] It was a real let off for Wimbledon who were disappointing in their first ever visit to The Northern Echo Arena.[LNB] They did not have a shot at goal until the 42nd minute when Christian Jolley, pushed wide by Ian Miller, unleashed a shot that Sam Russell saved at his near post.[LNB] And in first half injury time they had their second effort, this time Russell producing a stunning stop.[LNB] The Middlesbrough-born keeper beat away Sammy Moore's close-range volley to ensure the scores were level at the break, but Darlington should have taken the lead after forcing a flurry of chances at the beginning of the second half.[LNB] Bridge-Wilkinson turned close to goal but his shot was saved, though the midfielder should not have given brown the opportunity.[LNB] From a Bridge-Wilkinson corner, a header from debutant Adam Quinn hit top of the bar and with the follow-up Liam Hatch volleyed over the bar.[LNB] Quinn's arrival as a centre-back, from Crawley on Friday, allowed Hatch to return to the front line alongside Main.[LNB] After Hatch flick-on the ball, Main held off a defender but blazed an effort wide.[LNB] Wimbledon again failed to threaten as Quakers made the promotion-chasers look ordinary with keeper Russell only called on to make several catches, all of which he made comfortably.[LNB] Main's next major miss came following some good football across Darlington's midfield that ended in Paul Arnison delivering a pinpoint cross, but the teen striker barely made contact with his effort.[LNB] He had again ghosted between two defenders, but missed his header and soon after Cooper replace the South Shields-born striker with Tommy Wright.[LNB] In rare Wimbledon attack, sub Luke Moore blasted over from 20 yards thanks to a deflection and from the corner Darlington's Jamie Chandler headed against the underside of his own crossbar.[LNB] The Dons' Mark Nwokeji then stumbled into the penalty area past some weak Darlington challenges before Russell dived at his feet.[LNB] In the closing stages Quakers created more opportunities but failed to significantly test the visiting keeper.[LNB] A Gary Smith shot was pushed wide by Brown, though the effort was too central to trouble the keeper, and in injury time a Verma cross was just an inch too high for Hatch.[LNB] The goalless draw means Darlington slip a place to 12th, though they will hope to move back to the table when they host bottom-of-the-table Histon on Tuesday.[LNB] Bookings: Hatch (85, dissent)[LNB] Referee: Andy Madley (Leeds)[LNB] Attendance: 2,046 (311 away supporters)[LNB] Darlington (4-3-1-2): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Quinn, Brown; Chandler, G Smith, Verma; Bridge-Wilkinson; Hatch, Main (Wright 72). Subs (not used): Moore Burn, J Gray, Taylor[LNB] AFC Wimbledon (4-3-3): Brown; Hatton, Stuart, Franks, Bush; Mulley, Moore, Gregory; Jackson (Moore 46), Kedwell, Jolley (Nwokeji 46). Subs (not used): Turner (gk), Harris[LNB]
