Source: Northern_Echo
Darlington 3 Histon 1
Darlington demonstrated why they need reinforcements as they made hard work of overcoming bottom-of-the-table Histon. The 3-1 scoreline belies a scrappy performance, the first half being particularly poor, that was somewhat lacking in the energy evident in Saturday's draw with AFC Wimbledon. But the win means Quakers have taken seven points from the last nine available and are up to tenth, eight points off the play-offs with games in hand. In the second half of the season Darlington intend to push on and manager Mark Cooper has revealed he is confident of signing an unidentified midfielder before Saturday. He is believed to be a 32-year-old former Premier League player, while Cooper still hopes to bring in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. The midfielder is mulling over an 18-month contract offer and was not in the side last night following the end of his loan. Our team talk was 'you can make it as easy or as difficult a you like', said Cooper. I didn't think we were enough of a threat up front, especially in the first half. I didn't think our forwards caused enough problems for their centre-backs. You're only as good as your front two but we were a little but better in the second half. On potential new players, Cooper added: We'll have at least two players in before the weekend and you could see tonight that we need a forward. If Bridge-Wilkinson is not going to sign we are going to need another flair player which hopefully will be agreed and signed by Thursday. Cooper could have with a flair player last night as his team laboured through a disappointing first 45 minutes which got off to a worrying start with Histon spurning a golden chance to score in the third minute. Striker Omer Riza low blast from six yards was straight at keeper Sam Russell who saved with his legs. But Darlington failed to respond with their first shot not coming until the 33rd minute, and even then it was tame effort from outside the penalty area from Jamie Chandler. Sluggish Quakers were frustrated by a hard-working opposition and the gulf in performance compared to Saturday was vast. But supporters finally had something to cheer just before the break when Aman Verma scored, though his effort owed much to a deflection. After Gary Smith won the ball 18 yards from goal, Verma's shot deflected in off Histon player-manager David Livermore who was to endure an awful evening. Darlington showed more drive in the second period, controlling much of the play, and got their reward when they made it 2-0, Paul Arnison scoring a stunning strike. Keeper Joe Welch darted out of his penalty area to head ball clear, but strikers Tommy Wright and Liam Hatch combined to feed Arnison 20 yards from goal. He has made a career as a right-back, but was a striker in his youth and showed all the hallmarks of being a regular goalscorer as he deftly lobbed the ball into the back of the net. Last season he was credited with a goal at the Arena, against Aldershot, that only went in thanks to a divot in the six-yard box, but there was no luck about last night's perfectly-weighted effort. A two-lead against lowly opposition should have meant the remainder of the game became relatively simple, but Darlington allowed Histon back into it with Antonio Murray scoring. He broke through through Darlington's static defence thanks to a one-two with Riza before the Histon number nine side-footed home. There were few cheers though as the opposition were followed by few supporters, the official figure announced by Quakers being six. But Histon's chances of a comeback ended when Livermore was red-carded for a second booking, a late lunge on Gary Smith. The space created by Livermore's 72nd minute exit saw Quakers gain control the final goal came three minutes from time following some nice football. A ball out to the left found Aaron Brown whose low cross was dummied by sub Curtis Main and that left Liam Hatch the simple task of side-footing into the net from close-range. Goals: Verma (42, 1-0), Arnison (53, 2-0); Murray (61, 2-1); Hatch (87, 3-1). Bookings: Wright (55, foul); Livermore (63, foul), (72, foul); Chandler (90, dissent). Sendings-off: Livermoore (72, two bookable offences). Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside) 3. Attendance: 1,489. Entertainment: PP. Darlington (4-31-2): Russell 6; Taylor 6 (Moore 80), Miller 6, Quinn 7, Brown 6; Arnison 7, Chandler 8, G SMITH 8; Verma 7; Wright 5 (Main 69, 6), Hatch 5. Subs (not used): Burn, P Gray, J Gray. Histon (4-4-2): Welch 5, Oyebanjo 5, Okay 6, Clerima 5, Wooton 5; Attwood 5 (Sparkes 59, Stevenson 74)), Mills 5, Smith 5 (Taafe 88), Livermoore 4; MURRAY 7, Riza 7. Subs (not used): Lawton, Dowie. Man of the match: Gary Smith Popped all over the pitch and rarely gave the ball away.