Source: Northern_Echo
Rushden and Diamonds 2 Darlington 1
Danny Powell's first goal for the club had put Darlington ahead but their run of poor form continued as Rushden fought back and were full value for their victory.[LNB] Manager Mark Cooper could not hide his frustration and even said that had his side been awarded an injury-time penalty, when a Rushden player appeared to handle in the box, they would not have deserved a draw.[LNB] "There was a lack of leadership, guts and courage to try and extend a 1-0 lead," said Cooper, who was unable to bring in a new striker in time for the match.[LNB] "I'm getting tired of the saying the same old things and something has to change. We've given different players a chance, we've tried different formations but still we're not firing.[LNB] "Paul Terry was a different class tonight but you take away his leadership and what are you left with That wasn't a Mark Cooper team out there, big changes have to happen."[LNB] Powell gave Darlington the lead by ramming the ball into an empty net on 14 minutes.[LNB] The goal arrived after Paul Arnison, playing in a wide position to the right of midfield as Quakers tried a 3-4-3 formation, found Michael Smith, whose shot was parried by keeper Joe Day straight to Powell.[LNB] Arnison, Smith and Jamie Chandler were all recalled, with Gary Smith and Liam Hatch injured and John McReady also not involved.[LNB] Smith and Hatch had been below par in Saturday's defeat to Wrexham when Quakers struggled to create chances, but after going a goal up last night Cooper's men did little to further trouble the home keeper.[LNB] They allowed Diamonds back into the contest with their biggest threat coming from Rene Howe.[LNB] The bulky striker headed across goal with Aaron O'Connor just unable to get a touch on the ball, before drawing a smart save from Sam Russell with a powerful header from a corner.[LNB] With Quakers restricted to playing on the counter-attack, Rushden continued to press with Russell making a stunning save to stop Tim Sills' towering header, though the linesman's offside flag was raised.[LNB] Howe, who scored twice against Darlington for Lincoln last season, then struck a post from 12 yards before marauding right-back Justin Miller was afforded too much space in which to fire in a left-footed effort that rolled narrowly wide of goal.[LNB] Darlington showed some improvement with Chris Senior trying a daisy-cutter that Day collected easily, before a Quakers counter-attack led to Powell playing in Chandler but his deft effort was saved.[LNB] After the break, Russell was inches from scoring after a huge goal kick deceived Day. The ball bounced over the home side's keeper but, much to Day's relief, skimmed the top of the crossbar.[LNB] A goal then would have put Darlington in a strong position, but two quick goals turned the game in the hosts' favour with the first coming from Howe.[LNB] He cut inside from the left on 65 minutes before unleashing a powerful effort that Russell parried into the net.[LNB] It was a goal that Howe had been threatening, although sub Ryan Charles tried to claim it by following the ball into the net.[LNB] Then, on 71 minutes, an O'Connor shot from 18 yards deflected past Russell off Kevin Austin.[LNB] Darlington were shell-shocked but rarely did they appear likely to level.[LNB] Cooper sent on substitutes Tommy Wright and Gareth Waite, both making their comebacks after injury, but Rushden were in the ascendancy as they pressed for a third while Russell survived a strong penalty appeal when O'Connor tumbled.[LNB] But, in injury-time, Powell believed he should had a penalty for handball when his header towards goal struck Diamonds' Shane Huke.[LNB] Rushden leapfrog Darlington in the table, with Cooper's side, who have won just one of their last six matches, now 11th.[LNB] MATCHFACTS[LNB] Goals: Powell (14, 0-1); Howe (65, 1-1), O'Connor (71, 2-1)[LNB] Bookings: Senior (48, foul)[LNB] Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire) 7[LNB] Attendance: 1,034[LNB] Rushden & Diamonds (4-3-3): Joe Day 5; Miller 6 (Robinson 57, 6), Stuart 8, Osano 7, Jamie Day 6; Porter 7, Johnson 7, Huke 7; Sills 5 (Charles 62, 6), HOWE 8, O'Connor 7. Subs (not used): Key (gk), Power, Spence[LNB] Darlington (3-4-3): Russell 6; Miller 6, Hone 6, Austin 6, Arnison 6, TERRY 7, Chandler 6 (Wright 67, 6), Brown 5; Powell 6, M Smith 5, Senior 5 (Waite 67). Subs (not used): Lowson (gk), P Gray, Clarke[LNB] Man of the Match[LNB] RENE Howe - Darlington simply could not deal with the burly striker[LNB]
