Darlo 1 Northampton 2

Darlingtons dismal season continued at the Arena with a defeat to Northampton Town which they really didn't deserve.

The Cobblers had two good chances throughout the game and scored both, with the winner hotly disputed as offside.

For Darlington though the main talking points of the game were the superb play and cross by Jeff Smith which lead to Tadgj Purcell scoring his second goal in as as many matches whilst Noel Whelan made his long awaited return.  His substitute appearence lasted all of 4 minutes though after makinh his first run and pulling up holding his hamstring.

Staunton gave a debut to new on loan signing Shane Redmond and Daro started the more brightly of the two sides.

Simon Madden thought he had scored the opener with 15 minutes on the clock.  He latched on to a half clearance from a corner.  His 30 yarder was heading into the top corner before the Cobblers keeper Chris Dunn dived high to block the shot.  The ball fell to the floor behind the keeper and was rolling goalwards.  He smothered it, according to the referee, before it went over the line.  Many others beg to differ.

click here to go to the Football Club Match Action Gallery for this game

Just before the half hour The Quakers took the lead and it was Jeff Smith who was the playmaker.  After some nice interplay down the right wing he created enough space to send over a beautifully high cross to the far post, Purcell raced in unmarked to tap home.

But Darlingtons lead was cancelled out 9 minutes into the second half.  Just minutes after Curtis Main fluffed a one on one withe the keeper Northampton took a quick free kick which caught the Darlo defence flat footed.  McKay controlled the ball and rounded Redmond to make things all square.

On 66 minutes Darlo then went behind and it was far from what we deserved. 

Then Whelan was brought on.  But his appearence lasted 2 minutes.  Uncovered Tweeted at 9:24 that Whelan was on the pitch.  At 9:26 we tweeted that his hamstring had gone.   Bloody comedy gold if things weren't so serious.

At the final whistle is was a feeling of disappointment but sort of acceptence.  I don't for one minute think we will stay up, but I just want the team to show some signs of encouragement and I feel they gave that tonight.  We are still a long way from being a good team, but hell we are alot better than what we had several months ago.

Due to the club restricting the use of matchday photos to one image, here is an artists impression of Whelans apperance.

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