Quakers head to Consett (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Quakers head to Consett

9:00am Saturday 25th August 2012 in Darlington FC By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

After two games at Heritage Park, Darlington venture away from "home" for the first time today when they face Consett.

Quakers' matches have been at Bishop Auckland's ground that Darlington are sharing this season, and today they head to Belle Vue Park.

It is among a number of venues the club's fans will be visiting for the first time, though such grounds are nothing new to their squad.

All of Martin Gray's players have varying levels of Northern League experience, with striker Steven Johnson a familiar face on the North-East non-league circuit.

The 31-year-old has played for West Auckland, Shildon, Blyth and Whitby since rising to prominence a decade ago when scoring regularly during Darlington RA's ascent through the local leagues.

Darlington born and a former pupil at Eastbourne School, Johnson's celebration after scoring in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Marske showed how much the goal meant.

"He's Darlo through and through and every time he puts on a strip he gives 120 per cent," said Gray, who learned during Johnson's pre-season trial that the forward had offered to play for free during Darlington's crisis last season.

"That goal meant so much to him, everyone could see that from his celebration when he dived into the crowd.

"We were in training on Wednesday and he was still buzzing about it then! He loves the club and I think the fans like to see a local lad doing well."

Johnson showed similar passion for his hometown club during pre-season, kissing the crest on his shirt after the second goal of his hat-trick against Glasshoughton Welfare.

"I still haven't come down off the ceiling yet," Johnson told the club's official website after Tuesday's strike, a powerful drive from inside the penalty area. "I don't think I slept on Tuesday after the game.

"I was ecstatic when it hit the net and to do it in front of the home fans was brilliant.

"I must admit I thought it might be one of those nights. I hit the side netting earlier and just before the goal I had another chance which the keeper saved it and I thought 'its not going to be my night here'. Thankfully, I got a lovely ball through and I managed to keep my composure to stick it in the net."

Tuesday's game marked Johnson's debut having been an unused substitute against Bishops seven days ago.

With fellow forwards David Dowson and Shaun Reay already opening their accounts in the first week of the campaign, there is no guarantee he will start today as Gray has choices in attack.

"You need options in your forwards and we've got them," said Gray. "We've got some good substitutes there, you look around at the bench and say 'okay then, you two have a go now'.

"Dows wasn't injured on Tuesday, we just gave him a little rest by bringing him off because he puts a lot of work in, he never stops running."

Johnson's goal completed a 3-0 win in the dying minutes of Tuesday's game, while Dowson's strike came at a similar moment against Bishops.

Gray believes that fitness levels are crucial and their late goals have not been a coincidence.

He said: "They've worked very hard and I demand a lot from them. The work-rate has got to be high and it has been.

"It doesn't matter who you're playing against, when players are fatigued they're more likely to make mistakes so you've got to make sure you're the fittest team."

Today's opposition are, like Quakers, one of eight division one teams to avoid defeat in the opening two matches.

"Consett aren't bad, they aren't bad at all," said Gray. "They nearly won the Northern League a couple of years ago.

"They've got Michael McKay and they beat Celtic Nation the other night so they're not to be taken lightly."

QUAKERS: Norton; Harrison, Brown, Arjun Purewal, Smith; Emms, Ellison, Scott Nicholls; Dowson, Reay