Barnet 3, Darlington 1

Nov 9 2009 by Ray Simpson, The Journal

DARLINGTON’S suffering fans can look forward to seeing more new players at the club – but the challenge for manager Steve Staunton is finding a way of off-loading those he doesn’t want.

Any hope of revenue from the FA Cup disappeared in Saturday’s first round defeat, leaving Staunton facing a difficult task to balance the books.

“We know the players we would like to bring in,” he said. “That bit is not the problem. But my hands are tied. We have to get players out.”

There were plusses in a performance that improved as the game went on. New French striker Mor Diop, who scored the consolation goal, is already looking a classy addition despite being well short of match fitness.

As soon as he came off the bench in the second half the Quakers had more poise and purpose in attack, and he shaved the post and also helped create the space for team-mate Simon Thomas to threaten.

And there are some good young players at the club. Teenager Corey Barnes was solid at full-back, while fellow youngster Josh Gray is a winger with potential.

Curtis Main, 17, was given a brief outing as Darlington threw men forward in the final stages, but the team’s underlying problems continued.

“We are giving away bad goals,” conceded Staunton. “There was little in it in the first half. Then we let a goal in out of nothing.

“You can work on it all you want in training, but players have to track runners and we didn’t do that. We know that we have to do something to improve the defence.”

John O’Flynn slid home the opener on 18 minutes after finding space in the penalty area to collect Paul Furlong’s pass. And three minutes into the second half, Micah Hyde had the easiest of tasks to score after Furlong was again too good for Quakers.

James Collins, another teenager, brought a flying save from Barnet keeper Jake Cole, then within a couple of minutes shocking Darlington defending allowed O’Flynn to plunder a third.

However, then Diop got going, scoring and creating the sort of problems that Barnet had not previously faced. Cole was called into action several more times, but there was no way back for Quakers.

“We gave ourselves an uphill battle, and that will be the case until we start games the way we are finishing them,” added Staunton, who may this week let a couple of his loanees go, and try to replace them with more experienced players.

BARNET: Cole; Deen, Breen, Yakubu (Kamdjo 67), Gillet, Adomah (Jarrett 72), Micah Hyde, Hughes, Bolasie (Deverdics 88), O’Flynn, Furlong. Subs (not used): Biner, Jake Hyde, Hart, Leach.

Booked: Yakubu.

Goals: O’Flynn 18, Micah Hyde 47, O’Flynn 66.

DARLINGTON: Liversedge; Barnes, Plummer, Foster, Barnett, Convery (Gray 53), Davis, Gary Smith, Jeff Smith (Diop 53), Collins (Main 87), Thomas. Subs (not used): Jones, Arnison, Chandler, Burn.

Booked: Gary Smith.

Goal: Diop 73.

Attendance: 1,654.

Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)