Source: Northern_Echo
Harsh defeat for Darlington
Darlington were left cursing their missed chances as they sank to a harsh 3-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Barnet.
The Bees maintained their unbeaten home record thanks to three second half goals, but Quakers striker Simon Thomas and debutant midfielder David Davis were guilty of wasting scoring opportunities before the break.
Darlington had been the better side in the first 45 minutes during, which time they lost defender Ian Miller to injury, despite manager Steve Staunton giving first games of the season to four players.
Goalkeeper Nick Liversedge was handed his first league start, as were loan signings James Collins and Davis while youth team product Corey Barnes started a match for the first time since last season.
It was Quakers however, who began the better side with Jeff Smith seeing a shot saved by keeper Barnet Jake Cole.
A linesman's flag would have ruled Smith offside however, the move that led to the shot gave the 324 travelling Darlington fans an early glimpse of Collins who had earned the third minute corner.
He joined this week on loan from Aston Villa and formed one half of a new strike partnership with Thomas who soon had the first of three excellent Darlington chances to score before the break.
He curled a shot wide of the far post after latching on to a ball on the right and cutting inside and soon after Davis wasted Quakers' second good opportunity.
On 16 minutes the midfielder, who joined on loan from Wolves on Thursday, broke the offside trap but spooned the ball over the bar when he had only the keeper to beat.
It was not all one-way traffic with the hosts, playing down the substantial Underhill slope, before the break, winning six corners and occasionally attempting to to test Liversedge from distance.
Yannick Bolasie saw a powerful shot flash wide of Liversedge's goal and then Micah Hyde had a volley deflected wide before an explosive spell that saw physios from both teams required.
Just before the half hour mark Darlington lost Miller to what appeared to be a facial injury after he challenged for a high ball at a Barnet corner.
He was replaced at the heart of defence by Matt Plummer, but two minutes later Quakers must have feared losing Collins following an aerial duel with Gary Breen.
Breen, a former Republic of Ireland team-mate of Staunton's, required lengthy treatment to a head wound and had to change his blood-stained shirt.
Collins however, was shown only a yellow card by referee Steve Bratt and by the end of a more than satisfactory first half came the third Darlington chance to score with Thomas again on the end of it.
The ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the penalty area after Smith had slipped, but Thomas blasted his low shot wide of Cole's goal.
Nevertheless, Quakers could be pleased with their first half's work in which Liversedge had had little to do whereas some of Darlington's approach play deserved a goal They almost got within 60 seconds of the restart with Davis seeing a low drive roll narrowly wide of the target following a Quakers throw-in on the left.
The first half incident involving Miller meant there was an element of tension between the sides and the game flared-up again just before the hour mark due to a nasty challenge by Hyde on Jamie Chandler.
Chandler had passed the ball down-field before being clattered with a late Hyde tackle that triggered a mass bout of pushing and shoving involving most of the players, including Breen.
The centre-back decided his opinion on the incident was required so raced 50 yards to confront several Darlington players.
Soon after, however, despite being second best Barnet took the lead on 62 minutes with Ismail Yakubu heading into the net.
Following a Barnet throw, Bolasie swung over a left-wing cross that Yakubu diverted past Liversedge.
It was harsh on Darlington, but two minutes later they came within inches of it becoming 2-0 as Albert Adomah struck the post following good work on the byline by sub Jake Hyde.
Quakers had lost much of their impetus but on 70 minutes must have thought they were sure to equalise when Arnison swung over a super cross met by Collins but from close-range Cole demonstrated quick reactions to save.
Darlington switched to three up front with sub Curtis Main replacing Smith, but inside the final ten minutes Barnet score twice more to kill Quakers off.
On 80 minutes Nicky Deverdics made it 2-0 following a swift counter-attack up the right, the sub sweeping home at the back post, though there was more than a hint of offside about the goal.
The angry Darlington supporters positioned behind the linesman in question were quick to let their feelings known. They already felt aggrieved as Collins had been incorrectly called offside before the break.
But two minutes later Bolasie completed an unjust scoreline with the third goal.
After a run up the right by Hyde, Bolasie pounced on a loose ball in the area to slide the ball into the net.
Goals: 1-0 (62, Yakubu), 2-0 (80, Deverdics), 3-0 (82, Bolasie)
Bookings: Furlong (15, foul); Collins (31, foul); M Hyde (55, foul); Davis (76, foul)
Referee: Steve Bratt (Walsall)
Attendance: 2,313
Barnet (4-4-2): Cole; Devera, Yakubu, Breen, Gillet; Adomah, Hughes, M Hyde (Deverdics 60), Bolasie; O'Flynn (J Hyde 60), Furlong. Subs (not used): Carpenter (gk), O'Neill, Jarrett, Kamdjo, Deen
Darlington (4-4-2): Liversedge; Arnison, Foster, Miller (Plummer 29), Barnett; Barnes (Convery 80), Chandler, Davis, J Smith (Main 73); Thomas, Collins. Subs (not used): Knight (gk), Bennett, Groves