DARLINGTON 1883 V BRACKLEY

National League North

Three weeks on from our last visit to Blackwell Meadows, and it has not been a bad three weeks for Darlington with two wins and a draw since that home defeat to Harrogate. This keeps them on the fringe of the play-offs just a point adrift of fifth paced Halifax (though having played a game more). The opponents today are Brackley, one of the southernmost teams in the National League North, who are only a couple of places back themselves.

The pitch is still looking good and the weather is fine – cool, dry with a bit of a breeze. Brackley add a splash of colour when they come out in smart black and red stripes which contrast well with Darlo’s black and white hoops.

Darlington start the stronger playing downwind and force a succession of corners, four or five in as many minutes. Only one leads to a strike on goal, which keeper Laurie Walker stretches to keep out. All Brackley have to show for the first ten minutes is a header from full back James Clifton, arriving unmarked at the far post, which he fails to put on target.

Darlington continue to press. Stephen Thompson hits a free kick just wide of the angle and Nathan Cartman’s shot from distance is straight at the keeper. In between a cross is bundled into the net but only after a clear push on the keeper, which is spotted by the referee who disallows the goal.

On thirty minutes the most exciting action so far occurs when five jets fly in formation over the ground. This inspires Darlo’s best move of the half when the ball is moved diagonally through a few players to Thompson on the right; he bursts between two defenders into the box but his attempt to square the ball to well-placed colleagues does not quite work out.

After mainly playing long and high to tall centre forward Mark Beck for most of the half, Darlo are now beginning to join up the dots on the ground. That game is not helped by the pitch which despite appearances is proving to be bobbly, as is demonstrated by centre half Chris Hunter as he shanks a clearance over the stand.

Brackley have been defending for most of the half but now have a little spell up front. Adam Walker is found in the box but his shot is well saved by Ed Wilcczynski then Matt Lowe has an even better chance from twelve yards out but his shot is straight at the Darlo keeper who gathers it in comfortably. The half ends with no goals to show.

The first attempt of the second half comes from Brackley when Glenn Walker gets free down the left and crosses only for David Moyo to head over the bar. However Darlington are soon back in attacking mode and win a corner that Brackley fail to deal with. Beck is able to get his head to the loose ball and nod it on to Thompson who from a narrow angle leathers it past Walker and into the roof of the net for a spectacular score.

Brackley respond with two substitutions but they fail to change the pattern of the game and other than a couple of corners in rapid succession, rarely threaten. Credit for that goes to Hunter and fellow central defender Terry Galbraith.

A third Brackley substitution is made with ten minutes left but its effect is soon negated by an unfortunate collision near the dug-out. Glenn Walker is down for a long while receiving attention before being taken off, leaving the visitors a man light for the rest of the game. Darlo try to use the advantage but carve out only one chance when Beck gets a header on target that keeper Walker, at full stretch, tips over the bar.

There has been a few other stoppages for head knocks but the announcement of ten minutes added time causes a collective intake of breath from the home crowd who just want it over now. The length of the extra time does not prevent the home players from taking the ball to the corner flag at every opportunity making the end of the game a drab affair.

But a one nil win is a one nil win (that’s two on the trot) and as the crowd file out the results coming in from elsewhere show its value; every team that started the day above them have drawn or lost, which should put Darlington 1883 up into those coveted top five places.