Darlington 3-0 Accrington Stanley

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Posted at 11:51 PM GMT, Saturday, 20th September 2008

Darlington have not lost to Accrington Stanley since their return to the Football League in 2006 and that excellent record was never in danger during this encounter. Quakers turned the screw in the second half to record a comprehensive home win with Billy Clarke the star of the show. The on-loan striker once again showed his skills as he bagged a brace.

The home side dominated much of this game but there was little sign of entertainment at the break. Quakers were efficient, albeit a little dull but made their mark in the second half as the match became far more enjoyable as a spectacle. Darlington though shouldn't be too worried as they never really had to dig deep to dispose of Accrington. The visitors however should be concerned. On the basis of this performance they are looking at a long hard season.

The closest John Coleman's team came to scoring was through Jimmy Ryan. The former Shrewsbury Town midfielder broke from a Darlington corner kick after thirteen minutes, raced nearly half the pith and unleashed a dipping shot from all of twenty-five yards out which Simon Brown did well to tip over the bar. A few minutes later he fired over the horizontal as the visitors had one of their only spells of note.

The game desperately needed a goal to liven things up and after thirty-two minutes Clarke obliged. Franz Burgmeier's shot took a deflection off an Accrington defender and the ball dropped neatly into the path of the young Ipswich Town forward who skilfully managed to knock the ball over the advancing keeper and into the back of the net to give Darlington the lead. Ironically however the opening goal came as Quakers were reduced to ten men. Clarke's strike partner Liam Hatch was off the pitch receiving treatment for an injury as the home team took the lead.

The visitors tried in vain to respond before the break but any real chance they had of getting back into the game went out of the window three minutes before the hour mark. Clarke picked up skipper Steve Foster's ball with some clever control. Showing accuracy and bags of skill he brilliantly lobbed Kenny Arthur to increase his season's tally to seven goals.

Just over five minutes later the forward was close to getting a hat-trick. Twenty-five yards from goal he turned past a defender and sent a shot which only just went past the wrong side of the post. Accrington forced Brown into a good save on his goal line but in truth the result had never really looked in danger during the second half.

After the second goal the tempo increased another notch and it was all but certain that Quakers would add a third before the full time whistle. Burgmeier forced Arthur into an excellent save before delivering the corner kick which added the third of the afternoon. With fifteen minutes to play his cross was headed home by the Darlington born Alan White to seal a result which was never really in any doubt after the earlier two strikes.

Whilst the first period was far from free flowing Quakers have pumped some momentum into their season. Back to back home games was always going to present an opportunity but the previous week's results over Port Vale made this one even more important. The performance was perhaps more workman like at times but having recorded six points from two home games Quakers' fans can have little to complain about here.

Darlington: Brown, Austin, White, Foster, Purdie, Poole (Blundell 56), Kennedy (Hulbert 81), Ravenhill, Burgmeier, Hatch (Proudlock 81), Clarke. Subs Not Used: Kazimierczak, Miller.

Accrington Stanley: Arthur, Cavanagh, Murdock (Onibuje 74), Edwards, King (Williams 74), Ryan, Griffiths, John Mullin, Miles, Clarke (Gornell 46), Paul Mullin. Subs Not Used: Speare, Murphy.

Darlington bookings: None.

Accrington bookings: Cavanagh, John Mullin.

Goals: Clarke 32nd min (1-0), Clarke 57th min (2-0), White 76th min (3-0).

Att: 2,814.