Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers crash at Crewe
The optimism created by Tuesday's shock win at Rotherham evaporated at Crewe today as Darlington were thumped 3-0.[LNB] All the goals came in a first half during which Quakers' defence opened up time after time, and it was no surprise when the hosts took the lead on 24 minutes.[LNB] There was no way back for Steve Staunton's side who, for the most part, failed to recapture the form that brought them victory over the promotion-chasing Millers in midweek.[LNB] So it as you were for bottom of the table Darlington, who remain 14 points adrift of safety due to several of their relegation rivals also losing.[LNB] The warning signs were there from an early stage. In only the second minute Calvin Zola thundered a volley against Quakers' crossbar after the ball fell to him following a corner.[LNB] The striker, returning to action after missing two matches with an eye injury, saw the ball fall to him in space but fortunately for Darlington the ex-Newcastle trainee's 12-yard effort rebounded off the woodwork and Quakers were able to clear.[LNB] The corner had been conceded by Paul Arnison who kept his place in an unchanged team, meaning Irish right-back Simon Madden was on the bench.[LNB] He had been suspended for the win at Rotherham, which represented Quakers' first away win of the season.[LNB] They hoped to make it win number two at Gresty Road, but ten minutes after Zola struck the bar, so too did fellow striker Clayton Donaldson.[LNB] He took advantage of an Ian Miller slip, allowing the Crewe forward a run at goal but keeper Nick Liversedge managed to tip the powerful 18-yard strike on to the top of the crossbar.[LNB] It was a second let-off for Darlington, and from the resulting corner they were handed another when Crewe defender Mat Mitchel-King blazed over after Liversedge had fumbled a cross, and not for the last time today.[LNB] Mitchel-King limped off through injury on 23 minutes, but the goal that Crewe had been threatening came 60 seconds later with Zola scoring.[LNB] His 15th goal of the season could not have been easier. Following a Crewe corner, Zola tapped in to an empty net from close-range after Donaldson's deft effort had been deflected into his path by Liversedge.[LNB] In the build-up to the goal, Arnison had cleared the ball off the line but Crewe quickly returned the ball into the danger area for Zola to open the scoring.[LNB] Just six minutes later it was 2-0 with Joel Grant, on his return from injury, finding the net.[LNB] The forward found himself unmarked at the far post to meet a ball from the right after both Miller and Alan White had been unable to deal with Crewe's pacey forwards, Zola and Donaldson.[LNB] And there was worse to come. On 34 minutes it became 3-0 with Zola again scoring, taking advantage of Darlington's poor defending.[LNB] A left-wing cross appeared harmless, but an unmarked Zola headed home from eight yards to effectively seal the points before half-time whistle had been blown.[LNB] Darlington were in disarray, the defending hugely inadequate and suddenly Tuesday's moral-boosting victory at Rotherham seemed a long time ago.[LNB] Staunton used all his substitutions at the break, hauling off Arnison, Jeff Smith and Gary Smith with Madden, Josh Gray and Patrick Dean being sent on.[LNB] The early stages of the second half were comparatively tame with neither side troubling the keeper, Crewe perhaps choosing not to go forward and Darlington unable to.[LNB] The half-time changes saw Tadhg Purcell switches to right-wing, with Gareth Waite moving to a central role, but it was right-back Madden who was first to deliver a dangerous cross.[LNB] The right-back whipped the ball in from deep, but it evaded a clutch of Quakers players in the penalty are and the chance was soon gone.[LNB] Liversedge had had little to for the bulk of the second period, but he was shaping up to deal with a shot from Crewe sub Shaun Miller on the hour.[LNB] After being played in with a ball up the left channel by Grant, Miller was heading for goal until White appeared with a tremendously timed tackle.[LNB] Miller did some thing similar to the same player soon after, but not before Mor Diop had rolled wide Darlington's best chance of the day.[LNB] On 65 minutes the Paris-born striker latched on to a long forward pass and held off two defenders on the edge of the penalty area but fired his placed effort narrowly wide.[LNB] Deane showed his frustration, feeling Diop should have laid the ball off to him.[LNB] Darlington did marginally improve in the second half with Waite impressing in midfield, but the rarely called Crewe keeper Steve Phillips into action.[LNB] At the other end, Liversedge had to be alert when he raced off his line to collect a low ball played through the middle, but he was fouled by the onrushing Miller.[LNB] The striker was correctly booked for his dangerous tackle, though some home fans barracked referee Andy Woolmer for showing a yellow card.[LNB] It proved to be the last action of a lacklustre second half which fizzled to a close.[LNB] The damage had been done before the break, and now Quakers' attentions turns to Tuesday's home game with Northampton Town.[LNB] Goals: Zola (24, 1-0), Grant (30, 2-0), Zola (34, 3-0)[LNB] Booking: Miller (86, foul)[LNB] Referee: Karl Woolmer (Northamptonshire)[LNB] Attendance: 3,717[LNB] Crewe (4-4-2): Phillips, Brayford, O'Donnell, Mitchel-King (Worley 23), Tootle, Westwood, Schumacher, Grant (Shelley 81), Walton; Donaldson (Miller 61), Zola. Subs: Legzdins (gk), Moore, Murphy, Martin[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Liversedge; Arnison (Madden 45), White, Miller, Giddings; Waite, Dempsey, G Smith (Dean 45), J Smith (Gray 45); Diop, Purcell. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Foster, Mulligan, Main[LNB]