COASTERS HANG ON AS DARLO CRY FOUL
THE top two in the National League North drew 1-1, but secondplaced Darlington were left disappointed not to take three points off leaders AFC Fylde.
The Quakers thought they had won the contest with two minutes to go when Dave Syers headed home, but his effort was ruled out for offside, a decision which frustrated boss Martin Gray.
Gray had seen his team dominate a second half in which Syers’ disallowed effort was the closest Darlington came to going ahead, and he watched the incident back soon after the final whistle.
“I’ve seen a replay and I’m very disappointed with the decision. It should’ve stood, so we’re not happy,” Gray said.
“The second half performance was very dominant and there was only one team that was going to win the game and that was us. We deserved a bit better.
“I’m delighted with our players today and disappointed that we didn’t get the three points as they were well deserved.”
The Quakers, tenants at Bishop Auckland’s Heritage Park since 2012, were playing at the venue for what could be the final time if they receive approval next week to move back to Darlington at Blackwell Meadows, and an almost capacity crowd of 2,001 were in attendance.
They rose to the occasion, starting as brightly as Fylde’s luminous orange kit, and creating three early chances, with Stephen Thompson and Kevin Burgess shooting over and Josh Gillies heading at keeper Rhys Taylor.
Fylde had offered little and dangerman Danny Rowe was a virtual spectator, but he showed his quality when he scored from nowhere on 27 minutes.
He turned sharply inside the penalty area and fired hard and low into the far
corner beyond Peter Jameson. The goal was Fylde’s 50th of the season, with 24 of them scored by Rowe.
Just before the end of a largely even first half, Darlington’s Liam Marrs cleared off the line after Fylde’s first corner of the game, and then the Quakers levelled with a simple goal. Jameson’s punt was flicked on by Mark Beck and Gillies kept his composure to tuck home.
Darlington had all of the possession and chances after the break, pinning Fylde back, with Syers on the end of most of their scoring opportunities.
He twice headed over from good positions close to goal, and thought he had won it at the death when he met Terry Galbraith’s free-kick, until an assistant referee raised his flag to cut short the celebrations.
The draw meant Fylde remain four points clear on top of the league.