Quakers crumble to defeat

Darlington 2 Chesterfield 3 Darlington were left deflated after chucking away a two-goal lead with ten minutes to play and managing to lose 3-2 against Chesterfield. Quakers had been cruising to victory against the promotion-chasing visitors, leading 2-0 after Steve Staunton's side had put in arguably their best performance of the season. A double-strike from Tadhg Purcell put Quakers into a winning position they did not look like relinquishing. Chesterfield had won four consecutive games before today yet rarely looked threatening and Darlington appeared set for a much-needed and deserved three points. But Quakers collapsed in the closing stages with Richie Byrne's own goal sealing the Spirerites' win, cruelly robbing Darlington of victory. Due to results elsewhere going against them, Staunton's men are now 13 points from safety. Former Darlington striker Barry Conlon started on the bench for Chesterfield but fellow former Quaker Adam Rundle was in the line-up. And the winger almost inadvertently handed Darlington the lead on ten minutes and he had Mor Diop to thank for not being able to tap into an empty net. Rundle's clearance on the halfway line was charged down by Diop and carried forward by Purcell who returned the ball to his strike-partner in the penalty but, with the keeper out of position, Diop scuffed his 12-yard. It was wasteful of Diop and at the other end of the pitch three minutes later Rundle cut inside from the left and forced a good save from Quakers keeper Shane Redmond. Diop was in the line-up as one of three changes with Irish defender Richie Byrne making his first start and winger Josh Gray handed a rare place in the XI. Making way were Alan White, Jeff Smith and Curtis Main, all of whom were on the bench. Staunton was clearly looking for an improvement in his side following last week's 2-0 defeat at Morecambe, and his side looked solid at the back and more likely to create an opening in the opening stages today. He received tangible evidence on 27 minutes when Purcell made it 1-0 at the end of a swift attacking move. Simon Madden played in Nathan Mulligan down the right and his pinpoint cross was tapped in at the far post. Darlington deserved the lead and thereafter Chesterfield gave Quakers little reason for concern with Rundle well shackled by Madden while Redmond comfortably dealt with any crosses that came his way. Just before half-time, after meeting Stuart Giddings' free-kick, midfielder Gareth Waite saw a headed attempt at goal clear the bar before Gray's surging run ended with a low shot deflected wide for corner. It was a rousing finish to the half for Quakers who looked good for a second goal, and it came eight minutes after the break and again it came from Purcell. His 20-yard free-kick, awarded following a handball by Dominic Green, deflected in past keeper Tommy Lee. The goal was the January recruit's fifth in his seventh appearances and with Staunton's side in the ascendency a home win appeared assured. Eight minutes after the second goal, Purcell was instrumental in a move that almost made it 3-0. He dribbled the ball forward from his own half and in the opposition's penalty area back-heeled possession into Diop's path, but the Paris-born striker's shot was narrowly off target. At the other end an Ian Miller tackle on Derek Niven as the Chesterfield sub dribbled towards goal near the byline. The tackle gave Chesterfield a corner which Darlington defended easily enough, meaning Redmond's involvement was little more than as a spectator. By the 80th minute the first half save from Rundle had been the only stop he had to make. Maybe his lack of action partially explains the mistake which handed Chesterfield a route back into the game. Winger Simon Whaley had just come on as a sub and, with left-back Giddings caught out of position, his first touch was a cross-shot from 18 yards that squirmed under Redmond. Still, at 2-1 up with ten minutes to play, Quakers must have been confident of hanging on to a vital three points against a side that had not scored an equalising goal since August. That recorded ended around 60 seconds after Whaley's goal, as Drew Talbot smashing 30-yard looping effort sailed over Redmond. Byrne's weak clearing header fell to the Chesterfield forward and his stunning strike flew into the back of the net and this time blame could not be apportioned to the keeper. Having led by two goals, a 2-2 draw would have been a poor result but Darlington could not even hang on to a point as on 86 minutes Byrne found the net with a remarkable own goal. The defender had enjoyed an impressive afternoon, justifying his selection ahead of White, but the Irishman diverted the ball past Redmond. Talbot had headed the ball into the Darlington danger area, directly in front of goal, but Byrne panicked and knocked the ball over the line. It was a cruel way to end a game that Darlington deserved far more from. They could even have salvaged a draw in injury time as right-back Simon Madden fired a volley that was superbly tipped over by keeper Lee. The save ensured Chesterfield's winning run continued, yet they had appeared set for defeated just minutes earlier. Goals: Purcell (27, 1-0), Purcell (53, 2-0); Whaley (80, 2-1), Talbot (81, 2-2), Byrne og (86, 2-3) Bookings: Byrne (54, foul), Mulligan (56, foul), Groves (85, foul), Madden (90, foul); Rundle (90, foul) Referee: Gary Sutton (Lincoln) Attendance: 2,209 Darlington (4-4-2): Redmond; Madden, Miller, Byrne, Giddings; Gray (Deane 85), Waite, Dempsey (G Smith 68), Mulligan (Groves 78), Purcell, Diop. Subs (not used): Liversedge (gk), White, J Smith, Main Chesterfield (5-3-2): Lee; Gray, Page, Breckin, Hall (Niven 53), Goodall; Green (Whaley 70), Allott, Rundle; Madine (Boden 59), Talbot. Subs (not used): Crossley (gk), Austin, Artus, Conlon

Source: Northern_Echo