Source: Northern_Echo
Gray happy to get off the mark
Darlington winger Josh Gray revealed his relief at finally breaking his goalscoring duck after netting in Saturday's win at Burton Albion.[LNB] The South Shields-born teenager had been edging closer to his first strike in recent weeks, frequently firing at goal in games against Barnet, Aldershot and Shrewsbury.[LNB] At the weekend, in his 30th appearance and eighth start, the 18-year-old finally grabbed a first goal by lashing home from 18 yards to put Darlington on the road to a 2-1 victory at the Pirelli Stadium.[LNB] It was nice to score at last, I've been close quite a few times recently, he said.[LNB] Nobody's been giving me any flak, the lads have just been saying to keep my shots on target and hopefully it'll either go in or the keeper will make a mistake.[LNB] I don't think I hit this one too cleanly, the keeper might have got a hand to it.[LNB] It would be nice to get a couple more goals in the last few games of the season.[LNB] Fittingly Gray was teed up by 17-year-old Curtis Main, also from South Shields, and another graduate of the club's highly productive youth set-up.[LNB] Youth coaches Craig Liddle and Neil Maddison received another commendation on Saturday with Michael Smith's first appearance on the bench.[LNB] The striker, out injured for a lengthy spell earlier this season, did not make it on to the pitch, but new manager Simon Davey says he could see some action before the end of the season.[LNB] He said: I'd had a chat with Lidds and Maddo and asked them who they think should have an opportunity to travel with us. They mentioned Michael and that was why he was on the bench.[LNB] He didn't get on the pitch today but there will be opportunities for him and others during the last nine matches.[LNB] If Mor Diop fails to recover from a hamstring strain, Smith could be involved again today when Darlington host 17th-placed Hereford.[LNB] The Bulls arrive on the back of a three-game winning run while Quakers are bidding to win a third consecutive match for the first time since November 2008.[LNB] David said: I've told the players, it doesn't matter who you're playing against, you have to put a shift in, you have to work 100 per cent and then nobody can question you. We've got Hereford on Monday, let's go and get three points.[LNB] Darlington (probable): Redmond; Arnison, White, Miller, Milne; Moore, G Smith, Dempsey, Gray; Main, Purcell.[LNB]
