Source: Northern_Echo
Grimsby Town 1 Darlington 1
Grimsby Town 1 Darlington 1[LNB] COLIN Todd admitted his four-month spell at Darlington had been the 'hardest of his career' after leaving following Saturdays match at Grimsby Town.[LNB] After only nine league games Todd announced he was to leave following an arrangement with chairman Raj Singh.[LNB] Todd had been told Saturdays game was a must-win match, but Quakers could only draw 1-1, despite the 75th dismissal of Jamie Chandler.[LNB] It was only the clubs second point of the season and it was not enough to save Todd, although there is some discrepancy over whether or not he left of his own accord.[LNB] He said: I didnt resign from the football club. I never resigned at all. A decision was made by the chairman that if we didnt win the game we would part company.[LNB] But Quakers managing director Graham Fordy responded: He met the chairman on Monday and agreed if a victory didnt come his way on Saturday that he would resign and thats exactly what hes done.[LNB] Whatever the who, why and what for, Singh is now looking to make a managerial appointment with Craig Liddle, Neil Maddison and Mark Proctor all among the contenders.[LNB] Whoever gets the job, Todd says his replacement will have a difficult task.[LNB] Following a damaging period in administration, only two senior players chose not to leave during the summer and that meant, with a tiny budget, Todd had to quickly assemble a squad.[LNB] Because of the circumstances its been the hardest job I have done, he said. You have to deal with whats thrown at you and Ive got to say that the response of the players has been good. Its been very difficult for them as well.[LNB] It was a massive challenge but whoever comes in, unless theres some cash, then its going to be a long season.[LNB] Whether the club thinks a new person coming in can get more out of the players I dont know.[LNB] I think if one thing is evident its that we are trying to play in the right way. We have shown that today and I think we did the same against Bournemouth last week, without getting the breaks.[LNB] It was the same on Saturday.[LNB] In general play Quakers were better than Grimsby, playing the ball around confidently and maintaining long spells of possession.[LNB] But set-pieces were Darlingtons downfall and that was how Robert Atkinson headed Grimsby into a 21st minute lead.[LNB] He easily beat Jeff Smith to the ball before nodding past Russell Hoult, meaning Darlingtons positive start had gone to waste.[LNB] For all Quakers good approach play, they struggled to create chances meaning Grimsby keeper Josh Lillis had little to do.[LNB] Chandlers long-range drive that went high over Lillis bar on 35 minutes represented Quakers first effort at goal.[LNB] They did not have another of note until midway through the second half when James Bennett, making his full debut on the left of midfield, lashed a shot from an angle that Lillis pushed away.[LNB] Soon afterwards Chander saw red for pushing Danny North in an off-the-ball incident in full view of referee Scott Mathieson.[LNB] The on-loan midfielder claimed he had been kicked, but Mathieson showed no mercy.[LNB] However, Darlington deservedly managed to avoid defeat thanks to Curtis Mains 81st-minute header.[LNB] He got on the end of fellow sub Mark Converys perfect cross to the delight of the visiting fans to maintain the clubs unbeaten run against the Mariners, which now stretches to 14 games.[LNB] Former Quakers strikers Adam Proudlock and Barry Conlon were used as subs, but it was Atkinson who almost won the points in injury time at a corner.[LNB] Hoult did well to save to earn a morale-boosting point.[LNB] But the players mood darkened when Todd gathered them in the dressing room to reveal he was leaving.[LNB] He departs having lost seven of nine league games, although it could have been so different had Dean Windass and Gary Smith not missed late penalties during 1-0 defeats in August.[LNB] We should have more points than weve got, reflected Todd. Weve shot ourselves in the foot at times.[LNB] Theres been the two missed penalties.[LNB] The disappointing thing in football is that you never get enough time.[LNB] Now if someone comes in and loses eight games on the trot, or only picks up one point in eight games, I dont know what the club will do.[LNB] Matchfacts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Atkinson (21, header after meeting Sweeneys corner)[LNB] 1-1: Main (81, close-range header after Converys ball from the right)[LNB] Bookings: None[LNB] Sending-off: Chandler (75, violent conduct)[LNB] Referee: Scott Mathieson (Stockport) - Avoided any controversial incidents aside from Chandlers dismissal for an off-theball incident which the referee called correctly 8[LNB] Attendance: 4,014[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] GRIMSBY TOWN (4-4-2): Lillis 5; Wood 6, Linwood 5, Atkinson 7, Widdowson 6; Bore 5 (Forbes 63, 6), Clark 6, BENNETT 7, Sweeney 7 (Conlon 83); Akpa Akpro 6 (Proudlock 64, 6), North 5. Subs (not used): Colgan (gk), Leary, Jones, Normington[LNB] DARLINGTON (4-4-2):[LNB] 7 Hoult: One slip almost cost a goal but redeemed himself with a fine save from Atkinson in injury time[LNB] 7 Kane: Much-improved on his disappointing debut performance a week earlier[LNB] 7 Foster: Kept a close eye on Akpa Akpro in his best display of the season[LNB] 6 Miller: Solid defending though beaten in the air once or twice at set-pieces[LNB] 5 J Smith: Earned the wrath of Foster after making a mistake in the second half and out-jumped by Atkinson for the goal[LNB] 7 Devitt: Not as eye-catching as last week but played a pivotal role in creating the equaliser[LNB] 5 Chandler: Perhaps not as influential as in recent weeks and deservedly saw red for pushing North[LNB] 7 G Smith: Central to all of Darlingtons forward play, keeping Quakers ticking over with reliable passing[LNB] 5Bennett: Handed his full debut but produced little and was replaced on 72 minutes 4 Dowson: Difficult to see what he offers the team that Main couldnt. Unsurprisingly replaced after an hour[LNB] 6 Gall: Tireless running meant he was a constant menace to the Mariners defence[LNB] Subs: Main (for Dowson 63): The 17-yearold super sub earned a point with a close-range header 7 Convery (for Bennett 72) (not used): Liversedge (gk), Plummer, Bains, Riley Groves[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] STEVE Foster - getting back to his best. Perhaps had he played more often Todd would still be in a job.[LNB]
