Source: Northern_Echo
Main to the rescue for Darlington
Grimsby Town 1 Darlington 1 Ten-man Darlington earned only their second point of the season thanks to teenager Curtis Main whose header ten minutes from time secured a 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town.
Quakers remain bottom of the table but the goal will provide a huge boost to spirits at The Northern Echo Arena.
They were heading for another defeat when Robert Atkinson headed the Mariners into the lead during the first half and then Quakers' Jamie Chandler was sent off for violent conduct with 15 minutes to play.
But Darlington showing a battling spirit to fightback and earn a deserved draw.
Atkinson headed Grimsby into the lead by meeting Peter Sweeney's 21st minute corner.
Until that point Quakers had enjoyed plenty of possession without threatening a goal until Bennett took advantage of poor marking.
The Mariners were dangerous at set-pieces and within five minutes had three more chances at Sweeney corners.
Darlington defender Tony Kane cleared a Jean Louis Akpro effort off the line and then Ryan Bennett headed narrowly over before Akpro then fired straight at keeper Russell Hoult.
Darlington eventually regained their composure, playing the ball around nicely in midfield with Gary Smith central to almost all of Quakers' play, though it was central-midfield partner Chandler who had the visitors' first shot of the day.
Ten minutes before the break his rising drive flew over Josh Lillis' crossbar at the end of a prolonged passing move, but despite the teams equally sharing possession Grimsby continued to create chances.
But despite the teams equally sharing possession, Grimsby continued to create chances with Mike Newell's side most dangerous at free-kicks and corners.
At the end of a first half in which Chandler's long-range effort and a weak David Dowson header had been Darlington's only glimpses of goal, Grimsby spurned two more chances.
Akpro headed wide after beating Ian Miller in the air following Sweeney's cross from the left, and from the other flank Peter Bore's ball was met by the head of Danny North but he also headed wide.
Akpro was making his first start in seven games despite fellow strikers Adam Proudlock and Barry Conlon, the former Darlington pair, being available after serving suspensions.
At the beginning of the second half the luck Darlington need was nowhere to be seen as they were denied a penalty when a Gary Smith shot appeared to be blocked by a Grimsby hand in the penalty area.
The hosts' threat at set-pieces was again demonstrated when Bennett met Sweeney's free-kick but saw the effort go over.
Jeff Smith's clumsy and late challenge in Quakers' penalty area on Jamie Clarke went on unpunished by referee Scott Mathieson Mathieson perhaps took pity on Quakers' stand-in left-back having seconds earlier been on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing from team-mate Steve Foster who had been angry with Smith's defending.
Having rarely been involved for much of the day, Mariners keeper Josh Lillis did well to beat away a shot from Darlington's James Bennett at an angle before Chandler saw red with 15 minutes to play.
After taking a tumble in midfield, the on loan Sunderland midfielder appeared to lash out at Grimsby's Bennett and Mathieson showed no hesitation in producing a red card that Chandler had no qualms with.
But Quakers had not given up the fight.
After good work in the centre circle by Jamie Devitt he fed Mark Convery on the right and his precise cross found unmarked fellow sub Main to head home from close-range.
Late on Atkinson had chance to earn victory at a set-piece, but Hoult saved to earn Darlington their first away point of the season.
