Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers' play-off hopes are ended with Newport loss
Darlington crashed to their second successive away defeat, going down 2-1 to Newport County in what was a frustrating night for Mark Cooper's side.[LNB] First-half goals from Charlie Griffin and Darryl Knights were enough to hand the Welsh side victory, despite Aman Verma's 25-yard strike in the second half.[LNB] The defeat sees Quakers slip down to 11th in the Blue Square Premier League with Cooper admitting that any chance of reaching the play-offs had now disappeared.[LNB] Since their two-legged FA Trophy semi-final win over Gateshead, Quakers' league form has deteriorated with three defeats in their last four games, after previously going 19 games without a loss.[LNB] That suggests that minds are already on the FA Trophy final at Wembley on May 7 - for which Quakers have now sold 4,180 tickets - but there was another stark warning for Darlington players after the loss.[LNB] Cooper wanred that come the end of the season, they and their futures will be judged on their performances in the league.[LNB] The absence of top-scorer Liam Hatch was a big blow last night, with the striker missing out through a calf injury he has been carrying for a few weeks. He will be monitored before Saturday's meeting with Bath City.[LNB] It was a tale of two halves for the visitors, with a poor first-half display ultimately costing them the game and despite some tactical changes that did see a big improvement, Cooper was left disappointed his side had only turned out for 45 minutes.[LNB] "We started well for ten minutes, then we weren't at it," a frustrated Cooper said.[LNB] "We made a change up front in the second-half - and we were miles better and I think we deserved to get something out of the game.[LNB] "Second half they had a go and if they had played like that in the first half they would have won the game.[LNB] "We've hit the post late on after their lad headed it but we just couldn't get that break and you can see that we didn't have that fox in the box.[LNB] "We were the better team in the second-half, but for me, the planning starts now for next year, there's going to be some changes.''[LNB] He vowed: "I'm going to bring some winners to the football club and some people have a lot to do between now and the end of the season.[LNB] "We've got to get ourselves right for Wembley and make sure we win the Trophy and we'll be planning that now and looking at what our best team will be for that game.[LNB] "The bread and butter is the league though and they'll be judged by that."[LNB] The hosts created the early chances with Quakers rarely testing Glyn Thompson in the Newport goal.[LNB] County were more dangerous on the attack with Quakers keeper Sam Russell pulling off a great save to deny Knights just before the quarter-hour mark.[LNB] Momentum was with Newport and, in the 20th minute, they got the breakthrough.[LNB] Kerry Morgan gained possession out on the left, swinging a dangerous ball into the box, from which Griffin controlled, turned and then fired past Russell.[LNB] Things got worse for Darlington six minutes later when Knights doubled his side's lead. A misdirected header from Michael Smith left the tricky midfielder clear through the middle to net.[LNB] Cooper changed things around in the second period, with Aaron Brown and Greg Taylor reverting back to the full-back positions and, after starting with three centre-backs, Adam Quinn was moved up front to try and cause problems.[LNB] The switch of tactics and personal did make a difference and moments after Senior saw his curling shot tipped onto the bar by Thompson, Verma gave the Quakers a lifeline when his low shot from 25-yards went in.[LNB] Quakers continued to push forward but it was Newport centre-back Chris Todd who almost headed the ball past his own keeper.[LNB] His blushes were saved though when the ball crashed off the post, with the hosts holding on for the win.[LNB]
