Source: Northern_Echo
Kettering Town 0 Darlington 0
SOME scoreless draws can be grippingly entertaining, full of goalmouth incident and belie the blank scoreline.[LNB] Darlington's draw at Kettering Town, unfortunately, did not fall into that category.[LNB] Far from it.[LNB] Only when referee Russell Fletcher made one of his numerous errors such as awarding a free-kick to Darlington debutant Aaron Brown for pushing Serge Makofo in the face did it become anything other than a dull contest between two teams whose strength lay in defence.[LNB] Which explains why Darlington remain unbeaten.[LNB] It is on a resilient defence that manager Mark Cooper builds his organised teams.[LNB] Keeping a clean sheet is the priority and already Quakers have done that twice, whereas last season their first clean sheet did not come until November, their second being in February.[LNB] When Cooper led Kettering to the Conference North title in 2007-08 they conceded an average of less than a goal per game (36 in 42 matches) and he is using the same strategy at Darlington, but admits the lack of cutting edge is an issue.[LNB] As in the previous two games, Quakers were blunt in attack and only in the closing stages did they up the tempo.[LNB] The important thing is that we don't get beat and when we do click, and stay solid at the back, we'll collect a few points, said Cooper after the game at his former club where he received warm applause before kick-off.[LNB] I'm not happy with the forward play and the amount of possession we tossed away but we look like a unit. You can see there's a real desire not to be beaten, which is something that has been difficult to change.[LNB] There's a real togetherness about them and a will to succeed, which is good to see.[LNB] There's something to work on, but that's three games so far and we're unbeaten in all of them.[LNB] It is only the second time since 2000-01 that Darlington have begun a season by avoiding a defeat in the first three matches. Twelve months ago they lost all three.[LNB] Enthralling Saturday it may not have been, but it would be churlish to complain about Quakers' satisfactory start and with two home games to come this week they have an opportunity to maintain the momentum.[LNB] Gateshead visit The Northern Echo Arena on Saturday, but first up tomorrow are Grimsby Town who suffered a surprise home defeat on Saturday.[LNB] Cooper said: You only have to look at the results in this division. Grimsby lost 2-1 to Hayes & Yeading and that sums it up for me.[LNB] You've got to be consistent and you've got to pick up points when you're not playing well, and we're doing that.[LNB] But our forward play has got to be better, and that's not just a criticism of the strikers.[LNB] The midfielders need to be slipping balls through to strikers and wide players need to be producing crosses.[LNB] We're getting into the right areas but messing the final ball up.[LNB] Josh Gray was tasked with providing that final ball on Saturday, the teenager starting after his cameo in midweek, but he was subbed after an hour following a frustrating hour on the left.[LNB] His team-mates did not give him the ball enough, but it was from his wing that Quakers had the best chance of the day.[LNB] The cross was slightly behind Gary Smith, who escaped the Kettering defence, but from close range he directed his header straight at keeper Nathan Abbey.[LNB] That was about as good as it got during a tepid first-half in which the hosts' best chances were easily dealt with by Quakers' unflappable keeper Sam Russell.[LNB] After the break it was more of the same until the midway point. Quakers sent on midfielder John McReady and striker Richard Offiong but the more notable substitute was former Darlington winger Martin Smith.[LNB] After an injury seemingly ended his career, Smith left Darlington in 2008 and has recently been training with Newton Aycliffe and even played in a friendly for the Northern League club.[LNB] But with Kettering short on numbers they had three players suspended the 36- year-old turned out for a team managed by Lee Harper who he played alongside at Northampton.[LNB] Smith made little impact, however, unlike Offiong, who teed up McReady for what could have been a match-winner.[LNB] The loan forward burst down the right and pulled the ball back for the teenage midfielder, but his first-time effort went over the bar.[LNB] Then in injury time, Ian Miller saw a rasping volley tipped over by Abbey.[LNB] Cooper said: I wouldn't say I know what my best XI is yet because we've not particularly played well, but we're evolving and it takes time.[LNB] We've played two away games, we're unbeaten, we've got five points so we're up near the top. We just need to keep working on creating chances and we'll be fine.[LNB] Match facts Bookings: Chandler (17, foul), Brown (23, foul); Furlong (44, foul); Terry (ungentlemanly conduct), Hone (84, foul[LNB] Referee: Russell Fletcher (Derbyshire) - Angered both sides by continually getting simple decisions wrong, a failing typified when he gave a free-kick to Aaron Brown after he had pushed Kettering's Serge Makofo in the face 4[LNB] Attendance: 1,350[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] KETTERING TOWN (4-4-2): Abbey 6; DEMPSTER 7, Graham 6, Westwood 6, Taylor 5; Noubissie 7, Boucaud 6 (Solkhon 81), Dance 5 (Smith 65, 5); Makofo 5; Furlong 6 (Ashikodi 72), Marna 4. Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Jaszczun.[LNB] DARLINGTON (4-4-2):[LNB] 6 Russell: Rarely called on but did whatever was required without any problems;[LNB] 6 Arnison: Reduced Makofo's threat to a minimum but wasn't able to get forward[LNB] 7 MILLER: Spent the afternoon practising his heading and keeping the defence organised[LNB] 6 Hone: Given rough treatment by the physical Furlong[LNB] 5 Brown: A bit short of match sharpness before the break but was untroubled in the second period;[LNB] 6 G Smith: Played to the right of a narrow midfield three and was on the end of Darlington's best chance[LNB] 5 Chandler: Had two wayward shots at goal and collected a deserved first-half booking[LNB] 5 Terry: A few nice touches but did not contribute hugely to proceedings[LNB] 5 Gray: Did not deliver enough crosses but was not given the ball enough;[LNB] 4 Wright: Handed a chance to impress but saw little of the ball before being injured[LNB] 7 Hatch: Looked determined to get a goal but was given a rough ride by Kettering defence and no protection from the referee[LNB] Subs:[LNB] McReady (for Chandler 65): Showed a willingness to get forward and almost grabbed a winner 6[LNB] Offiong (for Gray 65): Made some impact with his penetrating runs, teeing up McReady for a shot 6[LNB] Senior (for Wright 76)[LNB] (not used): Jack (gk), Clarke[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] IAN Miller - The captain held the defence together and came close to an injury-time match-winner.[LNB]
