Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers blow three-goal lead
Cheltenham Town 3 Darlington 3 Darlington had to settle for a point after a remarkable six-goal thriller in which they led 3-0 but a Cheltenham Town fightback denied Simon Davey's side victory last night.[LNB] Quakers scored their goals by the 27th minute and the relegated side looked good for their third away win in four attempts.[LNB] But the Robins took advantage of some fragile defending to score two more in the second half and deny Darlington a memorable win.[LNB] Quakers' collapse left Davey deeply dissatisfied.[LNB] We did well to go 3-0 up but games last 90 minutes, not 27. We pushed the self-destruct button and ended up hanging on for a draw, he said. Their heads went down and the mentality needs to change.[LNB] I have come into the clubs for the last ten games of the season and this is an assessment period for me, not only am I looking at footballing ability but mental toughness as well.[LNB] There's a defeatist attitude within the players and I've noticed before, even in games we have won. They started getting lazy, not doing the jobs they are supposed to do.[LNB] Davey's team may have ended the game grateful for a draw, but Darlington got off to a blistering start by scoring twice in the opening five minutes with Tadhg Purcell grabbing the first.[LNB] Mor Diop ran at a back-peddling Cheltenham defence before picking out Purcell who side-footed home his ninth goal in 22 appearances with a curling finish.[LNB] That was after only two minutes, and soon it was 2-0 when Ashley Eastham put through his own net.[LNB] Chris Moore latched on to Alan White's long ball down the line before passing in-field to Purcell whose pass from the byline deflected into goal off the unfortunate Eastham after a team-mate had attempted to clear.[LNB] Robins keeper Scott Brown had to push a Purcell header around the post before the Robins gradually gained a foothold.[LNB] Midfielder Matt Thornhill's 15th minute shot over the bar represented the first of several attempts at goal, though none troubled keeper Shane Redmond.[LNB] He was well protected by a defence featuring the returning Mark Bower who replaced Ian Miller who has a hernia problem.[LNB] At the other end, however, an error gifted Darlington another goal.[LNB] Diop took advantage of Shane Duff's slip and the striker kept a cool head to slot through Brown's legs to make it 3-0, the first time Quakers have scored three in a game all season.[LNB] Duff was immediately substituted, though it appeared to be due to injury, but the goals continued to come and within two minutes Michael Pook pulled one back with a fluke effort.[LNB] His attempted cross from the right sailed over Redmond to make it 3-1.[LNB] There were no further goals in the half, but a fifth came within 60 seconds of the restart and this time it was a reinvigorated Cheltenham who got it.[LNB] Winger Josh Low played the ball into striker Justin Richards who beat two defenders before firing past Redmond from ten yards to drag the score back to 3-2.[LNB] The goal was a clear sign of intent from a determined team who infamously won 6-5 at Burton last month despite being 4-2 down with six minutes to play.[LNB] Quakers were under the cosh and the Cheltenham's equaliser of frenetic game came on 64 minutes.[LNB] Midfielder Medy Eliot tapped home from close-range after Darlington's defence was caught napping.[LNB] The winger ghosted into the penalty area to meet a pass from Pook whose run into space had gone unchecked.[LNB] Having finally nabbed an equaliser, the hosts' pressure relented but without Purcell, who went off injured before the break, Quakers struggled to create another clear scoring opportunity.[LNB] Substitute Michael Smith scuffed a free shot at goal from 16 yards and Gary Smith, captain in Miller's absence, rolled a 20-yard strike wide.[LNB] Cheltenham Town (4-4-2): Brown 5; Lescott 6, Eastham 5, Duff 4 (Gallinagh 28, 7), Ridley 6; Low 7 (Watkins 73), Thornhill 7, POOK 8, Elito 7; Alsop 6 (Hayles 78), Richards 7. Subs (not used): Puddy (gk), Brown, Hutton, Almond Darlington (4-4-2): Redmond 5; Milne 5, White 5, Bower 5, Giddings 6; Moore 6, G Smith 7, Dempsey 6, Groves 7; Diop 7, PURCELL 7 (M Smith 39, 6). Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), Madden, Burn, Convery, McReady, Mulligan[LNB]
