North-East Football Live: Saturday, March 16

Updated 4:57pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Darlington FC

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4:57pm

Coventry 1 Hartlepool 0

Unsinspring second half. Not enough going forward from Pools, six points from safety with eight games to go.

 

4:50pm

Ashington 0 Darlington 1

Steven Johnson with the only goal. 11th win in a row for Darlington.

4:43pm

Ashington 0 Darlington 1
Four minutes to go, tense closing stages here, especially with Spennymoor Town being held by Sunderland RCA. Attendance is 906.

4:42pm

4:31pm

4:31pm

 

4:30pm

Ashington 0 Darlington 1
Darlington score. Finally. Steven Johnson nets the rebound from close-range after Kerry Hedley had hit the post following a pass by David Dowson. Every outfield player on the pitch raced to join in with the celebrations, which says something for the relief felt at the goal.

4:26pm

4:26pm

Ashington v Darlington
Second substitution for Quakers, Kerry Hedley on for Chris Emms. Ashington have just made their first change, sending on Gareth Bainbridge for Jimmy Godsmark. Has been a frustrating day for Darlington, final ball has been poor. 70mins, 0-0.

4:24pm

Middlesbrough 0 Birmignham 0

Miller replaces Jutkiewicz and almost makes an immediate impact. Reach crossed in from the left but the striker's header went wide.

 

4:20pm

4:19pm

Ashington v Darlington
So close to a Quakers goal. Paul Antony clears a corner by Chris Emms off the line. And then a mistake by Stephen Harrison lets in Ashington as a poor pass let in Glen Taylor who played the ball to Marc Walton, by keeper Mark Bell dealt with the cross. Game opening up a little now. 62mins, 0-0.

4:14pm

Ashington v Darlington
Meanwhile, Sunderland RCA have equalised against Spennymoor Town, 1-1 there now. 58mins, 0-0.

4:12pm

Coventry 1 Hartlepool 0

Pools a man down in the second half. John Hughes not in the dug out. Understand he made his feelings known to referee Fred Graham during the ht interval. 

 

4:12pm

Ashington v Darlington
“Switch on, switch on, we’ve got to friggin’ lift it,” screams Joe Tait. And that they do. Just been caught offside for the umpteenth time. 55mins, 0-0.

4:09pm

Ashington v Darlington
First change for Darlington, Adam Nicholls withdrawn and replaced by Steven Johnson. Stephen Thompson is now back out on the left-wing. 53mins, 0-0.

4:06pm

Ashington v Darlington
The sun’s out but it’s bloody cold sat in the shade. Shivering here. No changes at half-time and no chances yet in the second half. 51mins, 0-0.

3:57pm

MIDDLESBROUGH 0 BIRMINGHAM 0

Boro haven't started yet. Really poor first half. 

3:49pm

Coventry 1 Hartlepool 0.

Not a lot between the teams, single goal the difference.

Hartley, naturally, complained at ht as the teams walked off the pitch about the goal. He felt he was fouled by McDonald as they went shoulder to shoulder on the edge of the area, but referee Fred Graham was having none of it.

 

3:47pm

Ashington 0 Darlington 0
Scoreline a fair reflection of play. Darlington have been quite direct and have had more of the ball, but Ashington keeper has had little to do. Darlington will be kicking down the slop and without the sun in their eyes.

3:46pm

3:45pm

Ashington v Darlington
Cracking challenge by Ashington’s James Taylor stops Stephen Thompson from getting a shot in after a pull-back by David Dowson. Last-ditch defending, something Ashington haven’t had to do much of, for the most par they’ve kept Quakers away from goal. 44mins, 0-0.

3:39pm

Ashington v Darlington
Ashington are saying the crowd is just over 800, which would be a new ground record. Highest since they moved here in 2008 has been 667. 38mins, 0-0.

3:35pm

3:35pm

Coventry 1 Hartlepool 0.

33 mins, Hartley bundled off the line by McDonald, who got in on goal to fire low across Flinders.

Was it a foul on Hartley or was it an old fashioned shoulder to shoulder between two players? A tough call, but one Pools were furious with. 

3:33pm

Ashington v Darlington
Opportunity missed by David Dowson, firing shot straight at keeper Karl Dryden. Chris Emms had played the pass, Dowson turned inside Liam Atkin, but the shot was too close to Dryden. 32mins, 0-0.

3:30pm

Ashington v Darlington
First booking of the day Matthew Grieve cautioned for a late tackle on Stephen Thompson. Bu the free-kick came to nothing, typical of Quakers’ set-pieces which have been poor today. 29mins, 0-0.

3:28pm

Ashington v Darlington
A narrow scape for The Northern Echo’s man at Ashington. Left-back Andrew Dobby hit the press box with a direct hit while clearing the ball up the line, it swerved out of play and into the stand, clattering into the vacant seat in front. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. 27mins, 0-0.

3:23pm

Coventry v Hartlepool

20 mins in, positive start from Pools.

Hartley and Collins have both put headers over the bar from Horwood corners. 

Pools decent in possession, and look organised. Sky Blues offering little. 

3:23pm

Ashington v Darlington
Chance wasted by Ashington. Glen Taylor headed wide of goal at a corner, fellow striker Marc Walton got a leg to it but prodded the ball over. 22mins, 0-0.

3:22pm

3:22pm

 

3:16pm

Ashington v Darlington
I can see horses over yonder. They’re running aimlessly. Think they’re horses. Either horses or ponies, not sure. 13mins, 0-0. Not much between the teams so far.

3:15pm

3:15pm

3:09pm

Ashington v Darlington
Ashington’s Paul Antony rolls a weak effort wide of the post, though it was close enough to see Mark Bell diving to his left. 8mins, 0-0.

3:06pm

Ashington v Darlington
Ashington’s Glen Taylor heads over Andrew Johnson’s corner, unable to take advantage of a slip by  keeper Mark Bell. 5mins, 0-0.

3:04pm

Ashington v Darlington
Bad miss already by Adam Nicholls, lifted the ball high over the bar after two minutes from a central position inside the penalty area after playing a one-two with Stephen Thompson.

3:01pm

Ashington v Darlington
We’ve kicked-off. Want a kit stat? Good, one’s coming your way. Darlington are in their all-red The Northern Echo-sponsored away kit for the tenth time this season, winning eight previously and losing the other (at West Auckland).

3:00pm

Ashington v Darlington
Am ensconced in a middle of the back row of seats and kick-off is very soon. Not going to be getting my usual pre-match pie and peas am I. Bugger.

2:55pm

 

2:48pm

Ashington v Darlington

Adam Nicholls returns to the starting line-up for today’s Darlington game at Ashington.

The winger is back in the line-up at the expense of Steven Johnson, a move which is likely to see Stephen Thompson return to the forward line.

He has played on the left of midfield of late, but Nicholls is expected to be on the wing today.

Having beaten Shildon 4-0 in midweek, top-of-the-table Darlington are looking to record a 11th successive win.
Ashington are sixth in the table and have won their last two games 5-3 and 8-1.

Ashington: Dryden, Grieve, Dobby, Antony, Atkin, Scott, Godsmark, J Taylor, Walton, G Taylor, Johnson. Subs: Moscrop, Bainbridge, Bolton, Slaughter

Darlington: Bell; Harrison, Brown, Tait, Scott; Emms, Galbraith, Davis, Nicholls; Dowson, Thompson. Subs: Turns (gk), Richardson, Hedley, Lowes, Johnson
Referee: Kevin Mulraine (Teesside)

2:44pm

Middlesbrough v Birmingham, at the Riverside.

Tony Mowbray makes seven changes for this afternoon's game. Justin Hoyte, Andre Bikey, Sammy Ameobi, Grant Leadbitter, Faris Haroun, Adam Reach and Lukas Jutkiewicz all come into the side.

Hoyte returns after two months, while Jutkiewicz makes his first start mid February.

Ameobi and Leadbitter come back in after illness, which kept them out of last weekend's defeat to Bristol City and Mowbray will hope the Newcastle loanee can have a similar impact to the one that saw him bag a debut goal in the win over Cardiff.

Boro: Steele; Hoyte, Woodgate, Bikey, Friend; Ameobi, Leadbitter, Haroun, Reach; Jutkiewicz, McDonald.

Subs: Leutwiler, R Williams, Halliday, McEachran, Carayol, Main, Miller.

Birmingham: Butland, Ferguson, Davies, Robinson, Caddis; Redmond, Spector, Morrison, Elliot; Zigic, Thomas.

Subs: Doyle, Caldwell, Burke, Mullins, Ambrose, Fahey, Reilly.

2:15pm

Coventry v Hartlepool, at the Ricoh Arena.

One change for Pools - Tony Sweeney starts in place of Nathan Luscombe. 

Luscombe started last week, but didn't make the most of his chance. Sweeney has been out with a knee injury, but played for the reserves in midweek and will be expected to charge around midfield and offer some support to the front men. 

COVENTRY CITY: Murphy, Baker, McDonald, McSheffrey, Jennings, Christie, Edjenguele, Stewart, Moussa, Martin, Bailey.
Subs: Dunn (gk), Clarke, Bell, Fleck, Barton, Wilson, Willis.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED: Flinders; Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood; Humphreys, Walton, Sweeney; Franks, Poole; Wyke.
Subs: McHugh (gk), Monkhouse, Luscombe, Rutherford, Holden, James, Howard.

Referee: Fred Graham (London)

12:22pm

MATCH OFF

Newton Aycliffe's home match with Bedlington Terriers today has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Aycliffe's next match is due to be at Billingham Synthonia next Saturday.

12:04pm

PITCH INSPECTION

Spennymoor Town's home match with Sunderland RCA today in Division One of the Northern League is subject to a 12pm pitch inspection.

In Division Two, Northallerton's home game with Whithaven has been postponed.

3:36pm

Wigan Team News

Wigan have been rocked by injuries to Ryo Miyaichi and Callum McManaman (both ankle), with the former out for the rest of the season and the latter a major concern for tomorrows game.
Subs: Robles (gk), Alcaraz, Stam, Espinoza, Henriquez, Golobart, Fyvie.

Newcastle Team News

Newcastle look set to be without Hatem Ben Arfa for the rest of the season, but Yohan Cabaye has a chance of playing despite going off injured on Thursday night.
Subs: Harper (gk), Perch, Anita, Obertan, Shola Ameobi, Marveaux, Campbell.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Welwyn Garden City)
Odds: H: 13/10, A: 12/5, D: 12/5
It's a fact: This will be only the 14th time the sides have met in the Premier League. Newcastle shade it with six wins, their last at the DW Stadium coming in January 2011.

Comment by Steph Clark: Newcastle must put their European exploits to one side in order to climb further away from the bottom three. Wigan are without a win at home since November so the Magpies will fancy their chances. 0-1

3:17pm

Sunderland Team News

Sunderland's James McClean has shrugged off illness and is available after missing the defeat at QPR. Striker Connor Wickham will also be involved after returning at the end of his loan to Sheffield Wednesday. Lee Cattermole (knee) is still ruled out.
Subs: Colback, McClean, Westwood (gk), Wickham, Mangane, Bardsley, Cuellar.

Norwich Team News

Anthony Pilkington is missing with a hamstring problem for Norwich, so Wes Hoolahan is expected to come back in to the side. Alex Tettey and Andrew Surman remain sidelined with knee injuries.
Subs: E Bennett, Whittaker, Fox, R Bennett, Camp (gk), Becchio, Holt.

Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens)
Odds: Home 11/10; Away 5/2; Draw 23/10
It's a fact: Danny Graham, without a goal for Sunderland, has scored six times in his last five appearances against the Canaries.

Comment by Paul Fraser: Sunderland are in dire need of the points ahead of a tricky run of fixtures and need to come away with a win at whatever cost. 2-1

2:46pm

Hartlepool Team News

Nathan Luscombe should keep his spot in midfield after starting last week. Pools have the same 17 players on duty again. Tony Sweeney played for the reserves in midweek and could appear as a second-half substitute.
Subs: McHugh (gk), Howard, James, Monkhouse, Sweeney, Holden, Rutherford.

Coventry Team News

Sky Blues’ 21-goal top scorer Leon Clarke is out with an ankle injury, while loan defender Carl Dickinson is back at Watford.
Subs: Fleck, Wilson, Bell, Dunn (gk), Stewart, Willis, Thomas

Odds: H 17/20; D14/5; A7/2
Referee: Fred Graham (London)
It’s a fact: This is Pools’ first Football League trip to Coventry since losing 4-1 in 1958.

Comment by Nick Loughlin: Pools have looked a bit flat in their last three games and Hughes will have to lift them for a big couple of weeks - 1-2

2:43pm

Middlesbrough Team News

Faris Haroun and Josh McEachran have recovered from the illness that kept them out of Boro's 2-0 defeat at Bristol City. Grant Leadbitter and Sammy Ameobi (both hamstring) face late fitness tests. Lukas Jutkiewicz (ankle) and Justin Hoyte (hip) have both returned to training, Andre Bikey (hamstring) is on the mend, while Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) may return at the end of the month.
Subs: Leutwiler (gk), Smallwood, Emnes, McEachran, Halliday, Carayol, Ameobi.

Birmingham Team News

Birmingham will be without Marlon King for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Steven Caldwell was left out of the team that beat Derby 3-1 last week after recovering from a hamstring injury and should be involved today.
Subs: Doyle (gk), Morrison, Mullins, Fahey, Redmond, Thomas, Robinson

Referee: David Coote (Nottingham)
Odds: Middlesbrough 11/10, Birmingham 11/4, Draw 13/5
It's a fact: Birmingham, then known as Small Heath, were the first side to visit Linthorpe Road when Boro joined the league in 1899.

Comment by Richard Mason: Every game from now is a must-win, and with long-time Boro tormentor Marlon King out of the picture they should take three points. 2-1

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