Source: Northern_Echo
Smiles better for Quakers supporters
It has taken a while, but the feelgood factor has returned to The Northern Echo Arena.[LNB] A impressive run of only one defeat in 15 games means Darlington remain in the hunt for a promotion and cup double so supporters are smiling again.[LNB] They weren't for a few days last week when Grimsby Town came calling for Mark Cooper, but the Mariners' approach was rebuffed and the manager is now aiming to oversee success on two fronts.[LNB] The play-offs remain in sight with Saturday's 1-0 home win over Cambridge United, thanks to a second half Liam Hatch goal, taking Quakers up to eighth and eight points off the play-offs.[LNB] It is their highest position since September and with games in hand on the teams around them, most of which they still have to play, Darlington's destiny is in their own hands.[LNB] Gateshead stand in the way of an appearance at Wembley in the final in of the FA Trophy with the first leg of the semi-final taking place on Saturday, while the Heed are also Quakers' next league opposition as they meet at the International Stadium tomorrow evening.[LNB] Another Darlington win is required if they are to maintain the momentum, and Cooper said: "Everything comes down to results. I told the players before the game that the way they feel now and the feeling around the place will only continue if you keep winning games.[LNB] "That's what we have to do - win as many games as possible and keep that feelgood factor going. It's all about results.[LNB] "You have to be careful because there's always a slap in the face around the corner. Football is like that, you have to enjoy it while you can but keep working hard. There's no secret, it's hard work mixed with a bit of ability and organisation and that can get you results.[LNB] "The only difference now is that there's a bit of belief now. Results are the key to everything."[LNB] Darlington are unbeaten in their last 11 games at the Arena, their best run on home soil for five years when crowds hovered around the 4,000 mark - twice what they are now.[LNB] However, an indication of the growing belief came in Saturday's attendance of 2,080 which was one of the club's highest of the campaign.[LNB] No doubt many were enticed back by last Tuesday's impressive 4-0 win over play-off chasing Fleetwood Town, but Darlington had to be patient against a redoubtable Cambridge.[LNB] The 17th-placed side clearly came for a point and succeeded in frustrating Quakers who dominated possession but struggled to create chances.[LNB] "They came to stop us and we're going to have to deal with that as word gets around about the kind of football that we're playing," said Cooper.[LNB] "Teams are going to come here, sit in and make it frustrating.[LNB] "If you don't get an early goal, which we didn't, you have to be patient because we were convinced the opportunity would come.[LNB] "I'd love to have won 4-0 again but you can't always do it. You've got to do whatever you can to win the game."[LNB] Before the break a downwards Hatch header, dealt with easily by former Quakers keeper Simon Brown, was about as close to goal as Darlington came, but the U's spurned a great chance when Adam Marriott fired wide of an empty net after Sam Russell had been left stranded on the edge of his own penalty area.[LNB] In the second half, however, Darlington upped the tempo and only a smart Brown save denied Marc Bridge-Wilkinson from scoring a curling 25-yard free-kick while substitute Chris Senior saw a close-range effort blocked by Brown's legs.[LNB] But Senior was involved when Quakers finally scored in the 67th minute.[LNB] Aaron Brown's free-kick from near the halfway line was headed across goal by Dan Burn and although the keeper pushed away Senior's header the ball went straight to Hatch who headed home.[LNB] The goal came after a free-kick awarded for a foul on Hatch, one of the few decisions referee Darren Bond managed to call correctly during a poor display.[LNB] From another of the rare free-kicks that Bond awarded to Darlington, Bridge-Wilkinson whacked the top of the crossbar meaning Quakers had to settle for a one-goal lead, though, unlike on numerous other occasions this time they did not concede a costly late goal.[LNB] "We've just got to keep chipping away," added Cooper.[LNB] "A few of the teams at the top have got fixtures that you'd expect them to win, but a few of them didn't today and we've got to keep chipping away.[LNB] "The gap's down to eight points now so if other teams slip-up we've got to make sure we keep on winning to narrow that gap so that, hopefully, we'll be within striking distance at the end of the season."[LNB]
