Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers held at Kettering
Kettering Town 0 Darlington 0[LNB] Darlington were again left to rue a lack of cutting edge when they were held 0-0 at Kettering Town this afternoon.[LNB] A feature during their previous two games has been a failure to cause problems for the opposition defence, and it was the same today at Rockingham Road where Mark Cooper's men collected their fifth point of the season.[LNB] Although Quakers rarely looked like conceding with keeper Sam Russell only occasionally called into action there was an equal lack of scoring opportunities at the other end of the pitch.[LNB] It was not until the final 20 minutes that Mark Cooper's side stepped up the pace with substitute John McReady and defender Ian Miller both going close to goal.[LNB] Nonetheless, the draw means Darlington re main unbeaten in their opening three games and Cooper can take heart from the defensive resilience that his side displayed today.[LNB] Kettering edged the first half in terms of possession but their sights of goal were few.[LNB] Poppies right-back John Dempster directed a free header straight at Russell and the Quakers shot-stopper comfortably dealt with an inswinging free-kick from James Dance.[LNB] Darlington's Gary Smith had the best chance of the half, but he headed straight at the keeper from close to goal.[LNB] After the break Quakers upped the tempo, keeping possession for longer periods however, Kettering hoped to change the game when they sent on sub Martin Smith who had made a surprise appearance on the team sheet.[LNB] The former Sunderland and Darlington winger retired through injury in 2008, and has recently been training with Northern League outfit Newton Aycliffe.[LNB] Kettering, whose manager Lee Harper played alongside Smith at Northampton, sent on the winger midway through the second half at the same time as Quakers made a double substitution.[LNB] Darlington had begun with a 4-4-2 formation and Cooper handed starts to Josh Gray and Tommy Wright, with Richard Offiong and Chris Senior making way.[LNB] Wright went off injured midway through the second period with a twisted ankle, though he expects to be fit for Tuesday's home game with Grimsby Town.[LNB] He was replaced in the forward line by Senior, and by that stage Cooper had already sent on McReady and Offiong in an attempt to nick a goal and the pair combined to set-up a chance for the young midfielder.[LNB] Offiong pulled the ball back from the byline for McReady but his first-time effort went narrowly over the bar and in injury time Miller lashed a powerful volley at goal that keeper Nathan Abbey tipped over the bar.[LNB] It was the best save of the day and it meant a point apiece which was a fair reflection of the play.[LNB] But Darlington will be seeing an improvement this week with two home games inside five days. First up is Grimsby on Tuesday followed by Gateshead next weekend.[LNB] Bookings: Chandler (17, foul), Brown (23, foul); Furlong (44, foul); Terry (ungentlemanly conduct), Hone (84, foul)[LNB] Referee: Russell Fletcher (Derbyshire)[LNB] Attendance: 1,350[LNB] Kettering Town (4-4-2): Abbey; Dempster, Graham, Westwood, Taylor; Noubissie, Boucaud (Solkhon 81), Dance (Smith 65); Makofo, Furlong (Ashikodi 72), Marna. Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Jaszczun.[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Hone, Brown; G Smith, Chandler (McReady 65), Terry, Gray (Offiong 65); Wright (Senior 76), Hatch. Subs (not used): Jack (gk), Clarke[LNB]
