Darlington 4 Workington 0

DARLINGTON paid tribute to club legend Ron Greener in the most appropriate way, going top of the table by comprehensively overcoming Workington.

The 4-0 scoreline flattered Quakers a little, but they were clinical, taking their chances to leapfrog Blyth Spartans on goal difference, while in defence they were strong and there was rarely cause for concern.

It would have delighted Ron, who was a regular at Heritage Park until a few months ago.

News of his death has saddened all Darlington supporters. A minute’s silence was held before kick-off, observed impeccably, after which Quakers proceeded to register their first home win five attempts.

Workington were unbeaten in nine league games until last night and had conceded only 13 times in 14 games, but goals by Lee Gaskell (2), Nathan Cartman and Leon Scott sent them back to Cumbria pointless.

The performance pleased manager Martin Gray, who said: “It was a massive performance. It was a tough game on Saturday and we ground out a point, so to put in another good performance three days later takes some doing.

“The fitness levels and strength of the team was fantastic.”

Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Heritage Park with Stourbridge saw Darlington score early, and they did it again last night, taking the lead eight minutes in with Gaskell scoring.

He headed in after a corner taken by Adam Mitchell, Quakers continuing their threat at set-pieces.

“We talk about hitting the right areas to give forwards a chance. The quality of the set-pieces has been consistently good,” said Gray.

“Our forwards have to attack the right area, and as well as Adam’s ball in there was Terry Galbraith’s deliveries which were also very good.”

Galbraith was paired with Chris Hunter at the centre of defence as Kevin Burgess remained sidelined with a calf strain, with Anthony Callaghan at left-back, his favoured position.

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The changes meant, unlike on Saturday, Darlington had a few more square pegs in square holes and although they took an early lead there was little between the sides.

Workington, playing 4-3-3, were just not threatening enough, with a tame Connor Tinion free-kick easily enough by Peter Jameson about the best they could muster.

Darlington escaped Jameson raced out of his area and Workington’s Scott Allison got past him, Darlington retreated in time to clear while the goalkeeper was still AWOL.

It had been a half of few chances at either end, but Darlington ended it 2-0 up Cartman scoring following Callaghan’s pinpoint cross.

The diminutive forward now has eight goals this season, and Gray said: “Callaghan has lots of quality. He’s been in the youth system at Sunderland, so he’s had a good upbringing and one thing he has got is quality on the ball.

“He picked Nathan out, and Nathan was brave. He got between two centre-halfs in an area where he could’ve got smashed, and that’s his eighth goal of the season.”

With a 2-0 lead to defend, Darlington remained in control throughout the second half, while Workington huffed and puffed.

They did not look like a team eighth in the table, nor like the one that had defeated Darlington 2-1 in August.

Tinion could’ve made things interesting had he been on target when shooting on the turn inside the Darlington penalty area.

Mitchell missed a one-on-one after a Cartman header into his feet, the winger shooting wide, and after Workington’s Matthew Tymon had a goal ruled out for offside Quakers wrapped up the points midway through the half with a fine goal which much to good play.

It began with Callaghan putting Allison on his backside with a sharp turn and a couple of passes later Cartman passed inside the penalty to Gaskell to slam home.

“That goal was the best of the bunch with the way it was created by the team and Nathan was very unselfish,” said Gray. “It was a typical striker’s finish, back to goal and he got his shot away really quickly.

“Our two forwards were a real handful.”

Gaskell almost had a hat-trick in injury time, instead slipping as he lined up a shot with only the goalkeeper to beat, the ball instead falling to Leon Scott to score high in the net from 12 yards.

He deserved the goal after another a rampaging display in midfield and it crowned a fine night for Darlington.

Ron would’ve been proud.

Goals: Gaskell (8, 1-0), Cartman (39, 2-0), Gaskell (65, 3-0), Scott (90, 4-0)

Bookings: Rowntree (31, foul), Tinion (71, foul)

Referee: Graeme Hopper (Gateshead) 7

Attendance: 1,050

Entertainment: ****

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson 7; Gibbons 7 (Portas 73), Hunter 7, Galbraith 7, Callaghan 7; Mitchell 8, Scott 8, Turnbull 7, Thompson 7 (Youhill 81); GASKELL 8, Cartman 8 (Armstrong 75). Subs (not used): Provett (gk), Lovegreen, Youhill

Workington (4-3-3): Jamieson 6; Simpson 6, Smith 5, May 6, Rowntree 5; Wright 6, McLuckie 6, TINION 7; Allison 6 (Arnison 73), McGee 6, Tymon 5. Subs (not used): Calvert, Mitchell, Earl, McCartney

Man of the match

LEE Gaskell – Has formed a potent partnership with Cartman

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