Quakers make it no-go for pros

DARLINGTON stunned big-spending promotion favourites Salford thanks to two goals by ex-Sunderland youngster David Ferguson at Moor Lane.

Salford turned full-time during the summer and brought in several new players, but it was Quakers who looked the more polished outfit, soaking up the home side’s pressure well and catching them on the break twice.

Quakers had a good spell on top, and nearly took the lead when a long throw by Gary Brown went right across the Salford six-yard box, but David Syers couldn’t turn the ball in.

But with James Caton causing trouble down both flanks with his pace, Quakers took the lead a minute before half-time.

Caton burst through and crashed a shot against the crossbar, and the ball rebounded out to the edge of the box for David Ferguson to control, and coolly stroked the ball left footed into the bottom right hand corner.

Salford had more pressure at the start of the second half. Mani Dieseruvwe mishit a shot from 10 yards and Mike Phenix could only divert the ball into Bartlett’s hands, then Lois Maynard set up Dieseruvwe, but he could only fire at the keeper.

Quakers overcame that spell of pressure, and started to gain more of a foothold in the game with the pace of Caton and Josh Gillies causing problems on the break.

Sub Harvey Saunders exposed them in the fourth minute of stoppage time when he broke down the right on the counter attack, beat a defender, and rolled the ball across the box for Ferguson to slide past the keeper.