Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers suffer late agony
Darlington 0 Wrexham 1[LNB] Darlington's eight-match unbeaten came to an end after a late goal today at The Northern Echo Arena gave Wrexham all three points.[LNB] A second successive scoreless game, following Monday's 0-0 draw at York, looked likely until Nat Knight-Percival's header three minutes from time was enough to snatch victory and take the Welsh side up to eighth while Quakers drop two places to ninth.[LNB] However, Darlington boss Mark Cooper was left reflecting on a poor refereeing decision which saw Wrexham escape a penalty being awarded against them in the first half.[LNB] Striker Daniel Powell, who joined Darlington on loan from MK Dons on Thursday, was clearly hauled to the ground inside the Dragon's penalty area by veteran defender Frank Sinclair.[LNB] The ex-Chelsea defender had been dispossessed by the teenager and reacted by holding Powell with both arms.[LNB] But, despite a linesman being placed around 15 yards away, referee Darren Handley amazed most inside the Arena by waving play on.[LNB] It was a stunningly poor decision by the Lancashire referee while Powell later said described the incident as the worst he had ever experienced and it arguably cost Quakers the game.[LNB] However, neither side could claim to be worth of victory after what was drab affair, lacking in tempo or clear scoring chances.[LNB] On the half-hour mark Powell should have been presented with a one-on-one opportunity but Gary Smith delayed his pass and the chance was gone.[LNB] That was one of the few noteworthy moments during tepid first 45 minutes, and the second half was not much better.[LNB] Quakers required an injection of energy so Cooper sent on Jamie Chandler, in place of Smith, and within seconds the former Sunderland youngster fired narrowly wide.[LNB] He and John McReady, who had been recalled at the expensive of Joe Clarke, then exchanged passes before releasing Powell who turned and shot low and straight at the keeper.[LNB] In the closing stages came Wrexham's best chances.[LNB] At a corner Knight-Percival headed over from close-range while Dean Keates and Jamie Tolley both fired over around 16 yards.[LNB] The game appeared to be heading for another 0-0 draw, but on 87 minutes right-back Curtis Obeng sent over a cross that Knight-Percival powered past keeper Sam Russell.[LNB] Darlington now look to start building another unbeaten run when they head to 12th placed Rushden on Tuesday.[LNB] Goal: Knight-Percival (87, 0-1)[LNB] Bookings: Obeng (24, encroachment), Sinclair (48, handball); Mangan (72, foul)[LNB] Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire)[LNB] Attendance: 1,690[LNB] Darlington (4-4-2): Russell; Miller, Hone, Austin, Brown; Senior, Terry, McReady, G Smith (Chandler 64); Powell, Hatch (M Smith 79), Senior. Subs: Lowson (gk), Clarke, Main[LNB] Wrexham (4-4-2): Maxwell; Obeng, Andrews, Sinclair, Ashton; Knight-Percival, Blackburn, Keates, Tolley; Taylor, Mangan (Hunt 90). Subs: Brown, Smith, Cieslewicz, Gall[LNB]
