National
League North
A day to check in on the National League
North run-in and of course on Darlington 1883’s new shared home at Blackwell
Meadows. A Good Cup Run is here early, before 2:30, but the ground is already
filling up with fans.
The ground is attractive, with the
Darlington Rugby Clubhouse on one side, a small grandstand opposite, and behind
one goal the reconstructed ‘Tin Shed’ from Feethams, their last ground but two.
That end also has the only concrete terracing, otherwise the standing areas are
at pitch level – so the early arrival is wise to obtain a spot on the pitch side
rail. The Tin Shed also offers the only covered standing, hopefully not a
problem today as despite heavy cloud and a stiff breeze, the forecast is dry.
As far as the run-in is concerned,
Darlington are just off the play-off pace, lying seventh; the ground move seems
to have disrupted their form with the four games played here having produced
two wins and two defeats. A series of good results is needed from here on in
but with Harrogate themselves only a couple of places back, this won’t be an
easy game to start it.
Both teams open up by playing the direct game,
and though Harrogate have the advantage of the wind in the first half, Darlington
look better equipped for it with centre forward Mark Beck, tall and effective
in flicking on the ball. He is also an obvious target for long throws hurled in
hard and flat by Gary Brown.
One of the few trying to play football on
the grass is Harrogate’s midfield ‘man in the plastic mask’ Lloyd Kerry; he is
small and nippy, too nippy for Darlington’s midfield enforcer Leon Scott who
arrives in a tackle late and high, launching Kerry into the air and a lengthy roly-poly.
It’s one of those where the perpetrator is lucky to escape with a yellow card,
but Scott is not lucky and the card is red. Darlo are down to ten men with over
an hour to go.
It is a boost to Harrogate, but the only
threat they can muster is a close range header over the bar from Simon Ainge.
Darlington actually come closer when Stephen Thompson finishes off a break with
a shot that hits the outside of a post. Possibly the worst half of football
seen this season ends not only goalless but without either keeper being
troubled by an attempt on target.
Thankfully the second half starts with a
change of Harrogate approach and the more passing game soon pays dividends.
Right wing Joe Colbeck has his fullback opponent David Ferguson back pedalling,
then falling over, which gives him free access to the by-line. His low cross
across the six yard box seems to be avoiding everyone until Ainge stick out a
poacher’s foot to ram the ball home.
Ten men Darlington have no option but to
persist with long balls forward, and at least they now have a following wind.
Three minutes after going behind, one of the hopeful punts forward is flicked
on by Beck, and Thompson runs onto it to lift it first time over the advancing
goalkeeper. The ball’s arrival in the net at the Tin Shed is greeted with
cheers of relief.
However the pattern remains one of Harrogate
pressure and occasional Darlington counter attack. Substitutes come and go, but
with fifteen minutes left the score remains one all. Then from Harrogate possession
on the edge of the box the ball is slipped through for Kerry to run onto and
sidefoot easily into the goal.
The home team cannot respond and remain largely
penned in. A high ball into their box is competed for by several players but
when it drops to earth it is to Ainge’s feet and he again shows his poacher’s
instinct by kicking it into the goal from close range.
With five minutes left it looks all up for Darlo
but they try a final all-out assault and one of Brown’s long throws is headed
on at the near post and finds Liam Hardy lurking unmarked at the far. He nods home
and hope springs eternal in the Tin Shed.
Such hope is not totally unfounded. Another
long throw earns a corner, which is headed just over the bar by Chris Hunter. Then
someone tries an acrobatic effort from the edge of the box, but it is too
straight and the keeper is able to flop onto it and use up the last few seconds
of the match.
The second half was as entertaining as the
first was boring; consolation for the neutral but not the home fans. For them
this defeat could signal the end of play-off hopes. The Harrogate fans head
home happy enough, the win puts them just a point behind their hosts.
