Quakers held at Kettering

Kettering Town 0 Darlington 0 Darlington were again left to rue a lack of cutting edge when they were held 0-0 at Kettering Town this afternoon. A feature during their previous two games has been a failure to cause problems for the opposition defence, and it was the same today at Rockingham Road where Mark Cooper's men collected their fifth point of the season. Although Quakers rarely looked like conceding with keeper Sam Russell only occasionally called into action there was an equal lack of scoring opportunities at the other end of the pitch. It was not until the final 20 minutes that Mark Cooper's side stepped up the pace with substitute John McReady and defender Ian Miller both going close to goal. Nonetheless, the draw means Darlington re main unbeaten in their opening three games and Cooper can take heart from the defensive resilience that his side displayed today. Kettering edged the first half in terms of possession but their sights of goal were few. Poppies right-back John Dempster directed a free header straight at Russell and the Quakers shot-stopper comfortably dealt with an inswinging free-kick from James Dance. Darlington's Gary Smith had the best chance of the half, but he headed straight at the keeper from close to goal. After the break Quakers upped the tempo, keeping possession for longer periods however, Kettering hoped to change the game when they sent on sub Martin Smith who had made a surprise appearance on the team sheet. The former Sunderland and Darlington winger retired through injury in 2008, and has recently been training with Northern League outfit Newton Aycliffe. Kettering, whose manager Lee Harper played alongside Smith at Northampton, sent on the winger midway through the second half at the same time as Quakers made a double substitution. Darlington had begun with a 4-4-2 formation and Cooper handed starts to Josh Gray and Tommy Wright, with Richard Offiong and Chris Senior making way. Wright went off injured midway through the second period with a twisted ankle, though he expects to be fit for Tuesday's home game with Grimsby Town. He was replaced in the forward line by Senior, and by that stage Cooper had already sent on McReady and Offiong in an attempt to nick a goal and the pair combined to set-up a chance for the young midfielder. Offiong pulled the ball back from the byline for McReady but his first-time effort went narrowly over the bar and in injury time Miller lashed a powerful volley at goal that keeper Nathan Abbey tipped over the bar. It was the best save of the day and it meant a point apiece which was a fair reflection of the play. But Darlington will be seeing an improvement this week with two home games inside five days. First up is Grimsby on Tuesday followed by Gateshead next weekend. Bookings: Chandler (17, foul), Brown (23, foul); Furlong (44, foul); Terry (ungentlemanly conduct), Hone (84, foul) Referee: Russell Fletcher (Derbyshire) Attendance: 1,350 Kettering Town (4-4-2): Abbey; Dempster, Graham, Westwood, Taylor; Noubissie, Boucaud (Solkhon 81), Dance (Smith 65); Makofo, Furlong (Ashikodi 72), Marna. Subs (not used): Harper (gk), Jaszczun. Darlington (4-4-2): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Hone, Brown; G Smith, Chandler (McReady 65), Terry, Gray (Offiong 65); Wright (Senior 76), Hatch. Subs (not used): Jack (gk), Clarke

Source: Northern_Echo