‘FREE’ FERGIE IS OFF THE LEASH!
Darlington’s David is two-goal dynamite
TWO well-taken goals from David Ferguson gave Darlington a deserved victory at Moor Lane against a Salford City side who are favourites to win the National League North title.
Ferguson said this summer he loved to express himself at the Quakers and that’s just what he did as their season opened up with a noteworthy win.
He told manager Martin Gray that he will produce if he is given the freedom to play in the free role he loves and the England C star was as good as his word.
Salford started well, knocking the ball around with intent and accuracy although the visitors were already defending intelligently. Their dominance didn’t last too long however and the Quakers soon found their feet. Just past the quarter hour James Caton’s left-foot snapshot flew high over the target, but goalscoring opportunities were rare for both sides. In the 24th minute Darlington’s Gary Brown launched a long throw-in from the left and at the far post Caton clipped a low effort wide.
The game was becoming a touch tetchy and after Brown was booked for dissent, Richie Allen whipped in a free-kick from the right. Carl Piergianni rose high to get in a ten-yard header only to see the effort drop over the bar.
Moments of quality were to be savoured in what was turning into a gritty struggle and Darlington provided one seven minutes before half-time. A long ball down the right was controlled by David Syers, who had space to hammer in a rising drive that cannoned back off the post. The home defence was all at sea, but Ferguson kept a cool head to guide home a low finish from the edge of the area.
A goal the Quakers deserved and as the second half got underway Salford were still struggling to find a response. Big striker Mani Dieseruvwe sent a dipping effort over the bar 11 minutes after the restart, but Darlington were going to be a tough nut to crack.
The Ammies almost found a way through just before the hour after good work from Michael Nottingham on the right. A nice lay-off gave Lois Maynard a sight of goal, but his effort got a touch off Mike Phenix before being smothered by keeper Adam Bartlett. A missed opportunity, but it prodded Salford into action and within a minute another Maynard effort was saved by the Darlington keeper.
This would be Salford’s best spell of the game and Allen tried a dipping, angled effort from the right that dropped a foot over the bar. Maynard turned creator next, lobbing a pass down the right for Phenix who muscled clear only to fire yards high of the target.
After that Darlington shut up shop defensively and the home side were running out of ideas. In the fifth minute of time added on, Quakers’ sub Harvey Saunders cut in before laying a pass into acres of space on the left. Ferguson was there again and he wrapped up the points with an unerring finish.
It was a great first day win for the Quakers as they aim to build on a solid first season back up last time around.