Source: Northern_Echo
What a difference a year makes for happy Gary
Gary Smith has been one of Darlington's outstanding performers in the team's good run and he returns today, 12 months on from perhaps his lowest point in last year's nightmare campaign.[LNB] A year ago Quakers slumped to a home defeat to Torquay United, a result that made it five consecutive losses.[LNB] Despite the wretched run - the second time Darlington chalked up five defeats in a row last season - Smith was considered that day to be worthy of no better than bench duty by Steve Staunton.[LNB] But by the end of March the hapless manager had been sacked, the Teessider was restored to the team and he has not looked back since.[LNB] Although the club is now in a division below, the differences between then and now could not be greater.[LNB] Quakers go into today's home match with Cambridge United full of confidence on the back of a run that features one defeat in 14 matches, while a week today they play the first of two legs in the FA Trophy semi-finals versus Gateshead.[LNB] Aside from the supporters who had to endure last year's shambles, there are not many better placed to judge the differences than Smith, who admits: "It was the most depressing season of my life, as it was for the other lads that were here. It was horrible.[LNB] "We know we should be doing better in the league now, we know we've dropped points towards the end of games, but we're doing well now.[LNB] "The atmosphere's good, it's a brilliant laugh. We know when we have to work, but these days it's enjoyable coming in every day.[LNB] "We were getting battered most weeks last year, but we've got a good squad now. Even the people coming off the bench are doing a job. We've got our formation and we play to our strengths.[LNB] "We want to play football and we're doing it okay. We've just got to match the physicality of some teams, which is what I thought we did against Kidderminster last week, and then we let our football do the talking."[LNB] Smith was rested for Tuesday's 4-0 win over Fleetwood Town with a thigh strain, replaced by youngster John McReady, who slotted seamlessly into Darlington's diamond midfield formation.[LNB] The team's set-up sees play-maker Marc Bridge-Wilkinson at the head of the diamond, Jamie Chandler at the base with Smith and Aman Verma between them.[LNB] The tactic has been a key factor during Darlington's recent run, and Smith added: "The diamond suits us because there's a lot of interchanging, we don't have to be rigid.[LNB] "Bridgey can drop back, Aman can too. The gaffer is letting us do that and it seems to be working for us. We're playing good football at the moment, which is all we want to do.[LNB] "And I think we're one of the form teams in the league."[LNB] McReady will make way today, though manager Mark Cooper is likely to keep changes to a minimum.[LNB] Striker John Campbell could be available if it is considered his broken hand has sufficiently healed.[LNB] But with goals currently coming from a range of different players Cooper may err on the side of caution if he feels it is not necessary to restore Campbell to the side before the trio of games against Gateshead.[LNB] That begins with a league game at the International Stadium on Tuesday.[LNB] In the Quakers' last two matches there have been five different scorers, with both Gary Smith and Michael Smith regularly finding the back of the net of late.[LNB] One the pair has scored in each of Darlington's last five games.[LNB] The first was the 1-0 win away to today's opponents, when Gary Smith scored a rare header.[LNB] He also put Quakers ahead with a well-struck shot against Salisbury City last weekend.[LNB] He said: "I got a header at Cambridge but the rest of the goals have been scuffed. I think last Saturday's was the first that hasn't taken a deflection![LNB] "I think I hit it first time, but it took ages to come down. I was just glad to hit the target.[LNB] "It was a good strike but I should've had loads more this season. I've had chances but I've just not managed to put them away."[LNB] Cooper added: "We haven't really got a prolific scorer so it's important that we share the goals around the team.[LNB] "Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has come up with a few, the defenders have got a few and we need everyone to chip in.[LNB] "We've not got a regular scorer, although Michael Smith has got four in four and hopefully he can keep that going."[LNB]
