Quakers go into crunch clash in fine form

“It’s just another game,” is how Martin Gray refers to this Saturday’s trip to Salford City, attempting to downplay the importance of the top-of-the-table fixture.

It’s not. It’s a match that could prove pivotal in the destination of the title and it’s one Quakers go into in fine fettle after bringing an end to their enforced winter break in satisfactory fashion.

They won 2-0 at Ossett Albion with goals from Graeme Armstrong and Stephen Thompson, while Salford surprisingly lost 3-1 at Brighouse Town, making it a good day for Darlington.

It would’ve been even better had Northwich Victoria not netted an injury-time winner at Prescot Cables.

Their win sees them exchange places with Salford on goal difference, while third-placed Darlington’s position is healthy: three points off the leaders having played five fixtures fewer than their promotion rivals.

They still do not know when their rearranged matches are to be played – urgency does not appear to rank highly in the thinking of the Evo-Stik League officials – but Darlington are doing their best to ensure they accrue enough points without having to rely on games in hand.

Sixteen league matches unbeaten now, their last defeat coming against Salford in September when, admits Darlington manager Martin Gray, Quakers were not as strong as they are now.

“We were a lot weaker going into that game and confidence wasn’t at its highest going into that game,” said Gray. “We got beat 1-0, possibly could’ve got a draw on another day.

“We go into the game in a stronger frame of mind this time, but it’s just another game.”

On Saturday, after weeks of waterlogged and frozen pitches, all concerned at Darlington were simply happy to have a game at all.

The fixture was only Darlington’s second of the year and their first away from home since December 13.

Gray said: “It was nice to have a game, and to win it as well was exactly what we needed.

“I was really nervous on Friday that the game was going to be called off because on Thursday night it had no chance when I spoke to their manager. So I was delighted this morning when the news came through that we had a game to go to, and the fans were probably the same. It’d been a while.

“Winning in the way that we did shows how important last week’s practice match was, so thanks again to Billingham Synthonia for giving us a game.”

Any fears that not playing competitively of late would be a factor were soon forgotten as Darlington were on top from an early stage, their defence again resolute while they created plenty in the final third.

Armstrong lobbed onrushing goalkeeper Neil Bennett after latching onto Gary Brown’s punt down the right, but Ossett Albion chairman’s Dominic Riordan was on hand to clear.

The 27-year-old centre-back joined Albion in the summer, becoming surely football’s only player-chairman.

All eyes, however, were on debutant Nathan Cartman, the 36-goal striker, who was making his Darlington debut at a venue where he scored a hat-trick this season for Harrogate RA.

He looked sharp and had the ball in the net on 20 minutes, but a linesman’s flag cut short the celebrations.

Darlington were soon celebrating though, when Armstrong put Quakers ahead with a smart finish from 20 yards.

It was not an easy finish to execute, the forward taking the ball down on his chest and shooting low into the corner to take his tally in all competitions to 17.

In recording their 13th clean sheet of the season, Darlington’s sturdy defence was again solid, ensuring goalkeeper Peter Jameson saw little of the action, but just before the break he was suddenly called on to save from Adam Muller.

It was the first of three smart saves Jameson had to make, the second just after the restart when he tipped over Connor Bower’s rising drive.

Gray added: “Pete made three good saves, but other than that he didn’t have an awful lot to do. His concentration was good and his kicking was spot on.

“We were strong defensively, we had a goal threat throughout.”

Riordan cleared a Cartman shot off the line when the new signing could’ve passed to the centrally-positioned Thompson, instead going for goal and beating the keeper, but the chairman cleared.

Jameson’s third save came in the dying minutes, denying Riordan when a looping header seemed destined for the net, but the keeper back-peddled and tipped over the effort from Ossett’s player-chairman.

By the time Jameson had denied Riordan, Thompson had made the points safe midway through the second half by blasting home from 12 yards. His volley on 64 minutes, after Brown’s right-wing cross had fallen to him, was his fifth goal of the campaign.

From thereon in Quakers were comfortable, easing to sixth successive league away win.

Making it seven at Salford really would be magnificent.

Goals: Armstrong (27, 0-1), Thompson (64, 0-2)

Bookings: Sharry (56, foul); Dowson (74, time wasting); Milnes (83, foul)

Referee: Brian McGill 6

Attendance: 519

Entertainment: **

Ossett Albion (4-4-2): Bennett 6; Nicholson 6, Milnes 6, RIORDAN 7, Hardaker 6; Taylor 6 (Reece 63, 6), Sharry 5, Matthews 5, Lindley 5 (Jones 61, 6); Muller 6, Bower 6. Subs (not used): Walker, Grech-Brooksbank, Souter

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson 8; Brown 8, WHITE 8, Hunter 7, Watson 7; A Mitchell 6 (Scott 74), Portas 7, Galbraith 7, Thompson 7 (Mota 67); Armstrong 7 (Dowson 63), Cartman 6. Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Hatch

Man of the match

ALAN White – Nothing got past the veteran defender