Defensive lapses costly for Quakers

Nov 23 2009 The Journal

Chesterfield 5, Darlington 2

THE pressure on Darlington to win home games will be intense if they don't start picking up points on their travels.

The same lapses that have dogged them all season struck again, meaning that they have to respond with a win at home to Morecambe tomorrow evening.

This latest defeat was not as bad as it looked, but the stark reality is that Quakers have gleaned just one point from eight away games. When Jonathan Hogg marked a fine debut with a goal four minutes from time Darlington were right back in it at 3-2. But then naïve defending allowed Chesterfield’s Scott Boden to plunder two goals in as many minutes.

“It was harsh, but that’s football,” said Darlington manager Steve Staunton. “We were never in trouble until Chesterfield scored their first goal.

“Then in the second half the players worked their socks off, but individual and team errors are costing us.”

The Quakers played five across midfield, and employed 17-year-old Curtis Main as a lone striker. He was battered and bullied by a strong defence, but linked play up well at times, and set up Gary Smith for a shot that fizzed wide.

With Chesterfield unable to make inroads all looked well for the visitors. But when guile didn’t work, they resorted to brute force, Rob Page ramming home from a corner after using his strength to outmuscle the Darlington defence.

Mark Allott scored a second from a half-cleared corner in first half stoppage time. But striker James Collins came off the bench and scored with his first touch, an exquisite finish from 35 yards. In their search for an equaliser they left the back door open and Kieran Djalali put the home side 3-1 up. Darlington rallied for Hogg to pounce on 86 minutes, but again defensive frailties surfaced.

CHESTERFIELD: Lee, Little, Page, Breckin, Picken, Talbot (Lewis 90), Perkins (Niven 80), Allott, Djilali, Lester, Small (Boden 81). Subs (not used): Crossley, Austin, Hall, Gray.

Booked: Little.

Goals: Page 37, Allott 45, Djilali 67, Boden 89, 90.

DARLINGTON: Liversedge, Barnes, Miller, Foster, Giddings, Jeff Smith (Mulligan 70), Hogg, Davis, Gary Smith (Gray 58), Thomas, Main (Collins 58). Subs (not used): Jones, Bower, Groves, Burn.

Booked: Giddings.

Goals: Collins 59, Hogg 87.

Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorks) Attendance: 3,460