Quakers’ four out of four (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Quakers’ four out of four

11:32pm Friday 31st August 2012 in Match Reports By Craig Stoddart, Deputy Sports Editor

Played four, won four, scored four.

They were the bare statistics last night as Darlington continued their impressive start to the season by marching to their fourth successive win with a 4-0 defeat of Dunston.

All the goals came during a frantic 20-minute spell in the second half when they scored two penalties through Shaun Reay and Amar Purewal got the other two.

The club last began the campaign with four successive wins in 1989-90 when they won promotion at the first attempt from the Conference.

Doing likewise in the Northern League is the clear aim and they now lead the table, though manager Martin Gray had to have words with his players at half-time.

Quakers were rampant after the break and could have scored more, but during the first period they struggled to break down defiant Dunston.

Early on Jack Norton spared the blushes of Arjun Purewal when the his over-hit back pass had to be cleared off the line and, during an otherwise tepid start, Purewal's brother, Amar, cut inside from the left, but his shot rolled into Liam Connell's hands.

Left-back Dan Smith strode forward and let fly from distance, but the effort was way off target.

So too was Dunston left-back Daniel Craggs with a free-kick midway through a half in which Darlington toiled with little end product.

Dunston defended well with Connell largely untested. There were half-hearted penalty claims, but veteran Dunston centre-back Chris Swailes appeared to take the ball cleanly off Reay's toes.

Gray said: "Dunston are a very good team. You have to give them a lot of credit and here was nothing between the teams in the first half and we needed to do better because it wasn't good enough.

"The players took on the information at half time and responded in the right way.

"We kept the ball better and I always knew that Dunston would tire because they had a midweek game and we didn't.

"Once we got the first goal it took the wind out of their sails."

Quakers did not have to wait long in the second period for the first goal.

Connell felled Steven Johnson in the penalty area and up stepped Reay who powered home from the spot.

The goal meant he has scored in each of Quakers' matches so far, and he soon added another, again with a penalty.

This time it came following a counter-attack led by quick winger Chris Emms who played in Reay who was tripped by Gibson, leaving Darlington's No. 9 to blast home.

It could so easily have been 1-1 were it not for a cracking save by Jack Norton. He pushed away a powerful downwards header by Dunston danger man Andrew Bulford.

Amar Purewal then lashed home at the far post following a Reay delivery for 3-0 and Reay was then on for his hat-trick, but he unselfishly passed to Johnson whose effort was diverted wide for a corner.

The final goal came from Amar Purwal, the left-winger slotting home from just inside the penalty area after collecting an Emms pass.

The scoreline was harsh on the visitors who defended well during the first half, but after the break Darlington attacked at will could even have had a fifth with Danny Mellanby, on as a sub, forcing a smart save out of Connell.

* Jamie Clarke was not included the squad and he is due to return to Whitby Town, while Danny Mellanby is set to go back to Newton Aycliffe .

On the bench for Quakers last night was new signing Matthew Grieve.

He is a 6ft 5in centre-back, formerly of Newcastle United and Ashington.