Source: Northern_Echo
Main secures second Darlington win
Darlington Burton Albion An early goal from teenage striker Curtis Main gave Darlinton a much-needed win at home to Burton Albion this afternoon.[LNB] His sixth minute strike was enough to give Quakers only their second victory of the season.[LNB] Although Darlington remain bottom of the table, the victory brings much-needed relief to Steve Staunton's side who had lost their last three league and cup matches.[LNB] They were made to hang on in the closing stages with Paul Peschildo's Burton side putting Darlington under pressure while referee Dave Foster infuriated Quakers with some puzzling decisions.[LNB] But despite Foster's performance and Burton's determination, Darlington held on for a deserved victory.[LNB] Darlington had made a bright start with Gary Smith latching on to Simon Thomas' flick-on and forcing a save from Burton keeper Artur Krysiak after only five minutes. Within 60 seconds Krysiak had been beaten as Main found the net with a goal that meant Darlington took the lead for the first time in a league game this season.[LNB] Mor Diop won the free-kick, after being fouled by Guy Branston, which taken quickly by David Davis, back-heeled into Main's path by Nathan Mulligan and the youngster struck the ball cleanly past Krysiak.[LNB] He showed composure to beat Krysiak and it was the youth team product's second goal of the season, his fourth for the club, and it justified his inclusion.[LNB] Main and Diop were two of five changes to Staunton's side with Ian Miller and new signings Mulligan and Stewart Giddings making their first starts for the club.[LNB] Mulligan signed three weeks ago from Norton & Stockton Ancients where former Middlesbrough youth team-mate Lee Cattermole sponsored his kit.[LNB] Sunderland midfielder Cattermole was in the stand at The Northern Echo Arena to see Mulligan's home debut.[LNB] On 19 minutes Miller, back in the team after two games out with concussion, headed over at a corner from Davis who came close to goal himself four minutes later with a speculative.[LNB] He hit a first-time effort from 35 yards after collecting Krysiak's under-hit clearance.[LNB] Quakers were pushed back in the closing stages of the half, but other than keeper Nick Liversedge having to beat away a dangerous Jacques Maghomas free-kick, they had been relatively untroubled.[LNB] The first half saw Miller and Steve Foster proved to be a solid defensive pairing but Branston, in the opposition's defence, took centre stage in first half injury time for a challenge that incorrectly went unpunished.[LNB] The giant centre-back, built like a rugby player, led with his elbow when challenging for a high ball that flattened Diop for several minutes.[LNB] But referee Foster felt no action was required and as the players and officials left the field at half-time Staunton had plenty to say to Foster, probably not much of complimentary.[LNB] The Paris-born striker who was able to continue following treatment from physio Will Short but, ironically, Branston who almost scored soon after the restart.[LNB] The shaven-headed defender headed over bar three minutes into second half from a corner taken by Jimmy Philips who was again the provider soon after.[LNB] The lively left-winger delivered a ball from a wide position to Richard Walker but from close-range he spooned the ball over the bar.[LNB] Burton continued to press with Giddings flinging himself to block Maghoma's effort to concede a corner, taken by Michael Simpson, from which Shaun Harrad shot over.[LNB] Liversedge called into action to make his first save midway through the second half to stop a Phillips effort before Foster demonstrated his importance to Quakers' cause.[LNB] He was excellent throughout, winning numerous challenges, and he somehow blocked Maghoma's shot from close to goal.[LNB] Yet Darlington struggled to make any inroads into opposition territory so Staunton used all three substitutions sending on Dan Groves, Josh Gray and Jamie Chandler.[LNB] But it was a Burton sub who had two chances two level the score. Striker Serge Makofo had two efforts from virtually the same position, 18 yards out, that were both held by Liversedge.[LNB] In a frantic finish Groves saw a header cleared off the line by Tony James.[LNB] Groves, a Darlington-born teenager, got his head to a cross from Main who had chased a lost cause and his efforts so easily almost resulted in a match-clinching goal.[LNB] But it was not to matter as Quakers hung to the victory in front of their highest league crowd of the season.[LNB] Goals: Main (6, 1-0)[LNB] Bookings: Davis (49, foul), Thomas (69, dissent), Chandler (87, foul)[LNB] Referee: Dave Foster (Newcastle)[LNB] Attendance: 2,403[LNB] Darlington : Liversedge, Barnes, Foster, Miller, Giddings, Mulligan (Groves 61), Davis (Chandler 77), G Smith, Main, Thomas, Diop (Gray 72). Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Burn, Bower[LNB] Burton Albion: Krysiak, Austin, Branston, James, Webster, Maghoma (Makofo 74), Simpson, McGrath, Phillips, Walker, Harrad (Pearson 58). Subs (not used): Poole (gk), Stride, Brown, Gilroy, Penn[LNB]
