DARLINGTON
1883 v WEST AUCKLAND TOWN - 3 September 2014
Hostilities resume from Saturday’s 1-1 draw,
tonight at Heritage Park, Darlington’s temporary Bishop Auckland home, which is
of course nearer West Auckland than Darlington so unsurprisingly it is another
good crowd. It’s cloudier than Saturday but warmer with (unusually at this
ground) no breath of wind; and the pitch here is flat, green and looking
positively manicured.
Darlington start at a high tempo that puts
West Auckland on the back foot but it takes a while for the pressure to produce
goal attempts. Fifteen minutes in West full back Gibson loses the ball to
Dowson who races in on goal and unleashes a fierce shot; keeper Lowson parries
well and the loose ball is hoofed clear. There is more to come as first
Mitchell and then Thompson send screamers just over the bar.
West are able to respond, though their
efforts from Richardson and Francis are from narrow angles and are easily
handled by Jameson. Their biggest threat seems to be from Gibson’s long throws
to the near post.
Darlington’s next effort comes when a
Thompson cross from the right stretches the West defence and the ball falls to
Mitchell on the penalty spot. He hits it sweetly but Lowson pulls off a great
save to keep West on level terms. A minute later, down the other end Knight’s
turn is too good for Galbraith, resulting in a trip and a penalty. His
subsequent kick from the spot is successful and as in the first game West
Auckland take a surprise lead into half time.
In the second half Darlington start fast and
furious and it gets a bit testy when West respond with a bit of time-wasting,
the benches getting involved. Darlo’s agitation shows when a quick free kick
catches them unprepared; and although Richardson, in the clear, makes a hash of
the shot he gets another chance when Ward returns the ball into the box. This
is better hit and beats Jameson, but not Brown on the line.
The next melee is at the West Auckland end,
and concludes with the keeper down needing treatment and more pushing and
shoving. Lowson recovers enough to save well from Dowson but the ensuing corner
is turned past him by his own centre half Hall to make it 1-1.
Darlo continue to press and force Lowson
into saves, notably tipping a Dowson header over the bar. More corners follow
and from one Armstrong leaps and heads the home team into the lead.
West Auckland refuse to lie down and as they
attack the space for the counter grows, making for an open game. But with five
minutes left, another Darlington corner arrows in from the left and this one is
met at the far post by substitute Hatch who heads it home.
At 3-1 the heat goes out of the contest and after
a bout of substitutions and injury stoppages, Darlington see the game out. It
has been a much better game than on Saturday, with higher tempo and greater
passion; West Auckland acquitted themselves well but in the end were beaten by
three corners where Darlington’s greater physical presence told.
ELSEWHERE
Bishop Auckland’s replay at Jarrow was almost
as spectacular as the first game with them finishing just ahead in a seven goal
thriller.
FA Cup state of play after the preliminary rounds:
2 yet to start, 5 through, 6 out.
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