Darlington settle for a draw

Darlington had to settle for a goalless draw against AFC Wimbledon having spurned chance after chance against top-of-the-table opposition. Curtis Main was the main culprit, getting into good positions but being being off-target with two close-range headers as well as a volley, as Quakers failed to turn possession into goals. They were on top for the majority of a game played on an icy surface at The Northern Echo Arena which passed two morning inspections. Despite the conditions both sides tried to play football with Quakers first to make an impression. Main slipped in the penalty area, under a challenge by Jamie Stuart, before the teenager flashed a drive that arrowed towards goal before being palmed away by keeper Seb Brown. Darlington continued to press with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's corner almost being turned in by Gary Smith who saw his effort cleared by a defender close to the goal-line Main's first gilt-edged chance came just after the half-hour mark, missing with a header. It came after a corner - awarded after a long-range Verma effort was deflected wide with Aaron Brown chipping in a lovely ball but even though Main ghosted past the Dons defence his close-range header was off target. It was a real let off for Wimbledon who were disappointing in their first ever visit to The Northern Echo Arena. They did not have a shot at goal until the 42nd minute when Christian Jolley, pushed wide by Ian Miller, unleashed a shot that Sam Russell saved at his near post. And in first half injury time they had their second effort, this time Russell producing a stunning stop. The Middlesbrough-born keeper beat away Sammy Moore's close-range volley to ensure the scores were level at the break, but Darlington should have taken the lead after forcing a flurry of chances at the beginning of the second half. Bridge-Wilkinson turned close to goal but his shot was saved, though the midfielder should not have given brown the opportunity. From a Bridge-Wilkinson corner, a header from debutant Adam Quinn hit top of the bar and with the follow-up Liam Hatch volleyed over the bar. Quinn's arrival as a centre-back, from Crawley on Friday, allowed Hatch to return to the front line alongside Main. After Hatch flick-on the ball, Main held off a defender but blazed an effort wide. Wimbledon again failed to threaten as Quakers made the promotion-chasers look ordinary with keeper Russell only called on to make several catches, all of which he made comfortably. Main's next major miss came following some good football across Darlington's midfield that ended in Paul Arnison delivering a pinpoint cross, but the teen striker barely made contact with his effort. He had again ghosted between two defenders, but missed his header and soon after Cooper replace the South Shields-born striker with Tommy Wright. In rare Wimbledon attack, sub Luke Moore blasted over from 20 yards thanks to a deflection and from the corner Darlington's Jamie Chandler headed against the underside of his own crossbar. The Dons' Mark Nwokeji then stumbled into the penalty area past some weak Darlington challenges before Russell dived at his feet. In the closing stages Quakers created more opportunities but failed to significantly test the visiting keeper. A Gary Smith shot was pushed wide by Brown, though the effort was too central to trouble the keeper, and in injury time a Verma cross was just an inch too high for Hatch. The goalless draw means Darlington slip a place to 12th, though they will hope to move back to the table when they host bottom-of-the-table Histon on Tuesday. Bookings: Hatch (85, dissent) Referee: Andy Madley (Leeds) Attendance: 2,046 (311 away supporters) Darlington (4-3-1-2): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Quinn, Brown; Chandler, G Smith, Verma; Bridge-Wilkinson; Hatch, Main (Wright 72). Subs (not used): Moore Burn, J Gray, Taylor AFC Wimbledon (4-3-3): Brown; Hatton, Stuart, Franks, Bush; Mulley, Moore, Gregory; Jackson (Moore 46), Kedwell, Jolley (Nwokeji 46). Subs (not used): Turner (gk), Harris

Source: Northern_Echo