Darlington bounce back from Ramsbottom Drubbing with a Dominant Team Performance away to Salford 28/9/13

 

Tuesday 24^th September is a date that all Darlington fans will want to forget in a hurry, a shambolic performance from Darlington resulted in a humiliating 3-0 drubbing away to Ramsbottom United, to the delight of a few neutral Curzon fans who had also made the trip. The result left a minority of fans questioning where we will actually finish the season in a league that presented a much tougher challenge than the previous seasons domination of the EBAC Northern League. So when the following Saturday came and a tough away trip to Salford City in 9^th place, who themselves were looking like contenders for the play-offs, it would have been understandable that a few fans would have been slightly worried about what the day would bring.

We set off on the 111mile trip down the A1, M1 and M62 to Salford at 10:30am and still feeling a bit groggy from the previous evenings antics, we really weren’t looking forward to what was certainly going to be a tough match. The journey was both dragging and cramped, it’s certainly not pleasant having to fit into a small Micra with 4 other people for what was going to be a 2 hour trip on a very warm day. We touched down in Salford at about 12:30pm and began the hunt for a parking space. How do you go about finding somewhere to park in an area of greater Manchester that is a hot spot for car crime? Luckily we managed to find a good parking spot just outside Salfords Moor Lane Stadium. Upon first sight of the ground it looked like a very typical old fashioned non-league ground, a perimeter of concrete walls separated the outside world from the delights of moor lane. We arrived at the turnstiles, paid our £7 admission, purchased a programme for only £1.50 (Bargain!) and immediately set off for the club bar. The bar was pretty bog standard to be honest, limited selection of lagers and the usual soft drinks etc. The grub hut was pretty standard aswell, serving the usual Burgers, Pie & peas, soft drinks, tea and all the rest you’d expect from a traditional football menu.

Moor Lane is made of 2 stands on each side and areas of hard standing behind each goal. The main stand situated behind the dugouts was a big old concrete seated area, built in with the old fashioned benches instead of chairs and directly opposite that was a smaller metal shed. As a whole, Moor Lane can hold up to 1400.

 

With both teams looking to bounce back from disappointing defeats they lined up as follows:

Salford (9^th before the match) – O’Boyle, Aston, Browne, Swift, Gorman, Walters, Hodgkinson, Gill, Bond, Bancroft, Mota

Darlington (6^th before the match) – Bell, Pilatos, Galbraith, Hunter, White, Edwards, Moore, Scott, Dowson, P.Robinson, Thompson

Darlington had made a few changes to the squad that was humiliated midweek, Pilatos replaced J.Robinson in the team and Hunter was put into central defence to partner experienced defender Alan White, Leon Scott had also been re-installed ahead of Jonny Davis and Paul Robinson came into to replace the injured Amar Purewal. Unfortunately for new signing Nathan Fisher, his international clearance hadn't come through in time for the match.

Onto the match!

Both teams started bright, getting in early chances that were easily dealt with in a half that offered no real test for either keeper. Steven Thompson, who was particullaly looking dangerous for Darlo got in a chance in the first minute, his shot just going wide of the goal. An early chance for Salford fell to Aaron Swift who from about 20yrds from goal, hit a sweet left footed volley that brought out a cracking save from Mark Bell, which led to a scrap for the ball in Darlingtons box before it was eventually scrambled away. Another chance for Salford was when the ball was picked up outside the box by the attacker who went on a solo run into Darlos box, going past one defender after another before eventually, just yards from goal a last ditch tackle saved Darlo from going 1-0 down. Both teams were shutting each other out well, limiting each team to just minor chances in a very even and tight 1^st half in which Darlo just shaded on possession. A couple of positives to come out of the opening half was that Darlo looked a lot more lively and organised after Tuesday nights debacle, also was the promising performance of young Bruno Pilatos who was making his 1^st league start for Darlo.

Into the 2^nd half and Darlo immediately stamped their authority on the game by going 1-0 up in the opening minutes. A neat pass by Pilatos is met by Moore who takes on the fullback and hits a low ball into the box for Dowson to wrong foot the the keeper with a trademark David Dowson back heel to put the visitors 1-0 up, from then on it was all one way. Darlo had really come out all guns blazing, getting in some really good chances, particularly from Steven Thompson. The tricky midfielder was casuing havoc for the Salford defence,  getting in a right footed shot from 25yrds out that just went wide of the keepers near post. Not long later Thompson had another good chance, cutting inside from the left and shooting straight at the keeper. Thompsons hardwork was soon rewarded in the 71st minute when he picked up the ball just outside the box and with Salfords defenders not closing down quick enough, he unleashed a ferocious right footed shot which left O’Boyle in the Salford net with no chance. Darlo were truly dominating the game, Leon Scott also got in a powerful left footed strike that gave the keeper a bit of work to do. The back four for Darlo were really earning their wages, not giving Salford a sniff at goal all second half apart from one moment late on, a cross was whipped into the box and found an unmarked Salford player who had the chance to pull his team back in the game……..however, he snapped at the chance and ended up putting the ball out for a Darlo throw in. It so easily could have been more than 2-0 but that is how it finished, a performance that put the smile back on the fans and in particular Martin Gray, the resul put Darlo up to 3^rd in the table after a tough midweek.

Man of the Match for me had to be Bruno Pilatos, on his first league start for the club he looked so composed and dealt with what little he had to do with ease, also getting up and joining the attack from time to time.

With impressive 3 points in the bag we all set off for home back up the M62 and reflected on what (in my opinion) was our best performance of the season. The whole team had put in a real shift, in particular Dowson, Hunter, Pilatos, Edwards and Thompson. Up next for Darlo is at home against Ossett Albion on Wednesday night. Highlights for the match (if any) can be found on http://www.darlington1883.co.uk/ when eventually uploaded.