Whilst it might not be mathematically certain, the atmosphere at the Darlington Arena this afternoon suggested there is to be Conference football to look forward to next season. A regulation drum is in full rehearsal and the sparse crowd was probably due to an extra shift for the flag makers. The visiting Bulls scraped out a single goal victory to return with all three points.
Graham Turner named an unchanged starting line-up with Craig King’s replacement of Ajdarevic on the bench being the only squad change.
The Bulls started the brighter in front of not far short of 23,000 empty seats and anyone who had not seen The Arena before may well have thought the investment might have been better spent building an American Golf Centre at the North Pole. Lewis Young broke down the right before firing into the side netting and shortly afterwards Manbeast went on a mazy run before being dispossessed just inside the box. The football was not of a particularly polished nature but the rival fans helped the entertainment with some competitive banter. “Our ground’s too big for us” sang the locals while some of the Bull’s fans replied with “our ground is ******* ***t.
On 10 minutes, The Quakers got the ball in the net when Purcell nodded down for Main to volley in but the assistant’s flag was already fluttering on the breeze. When a home corner was only half cleared, defender Paul Arnison fired over from just outside the area. Kenny Lunt raced onto a Manset through ball but his effort curled just wide of the upright. Then Marc Pugh put Jervis in on goal but the young strikers snap-shot was well saved by ‘keeper Redmond low at the near post and at the other end, Darren Jones was quickly across to block an effort from Gary Smith.
Meanwhile, off the pitch, the Darlo fans provided the obligatory Welsh and sheep jibes with our lot responding with a rousing chorus of “if you’re all going to Histon, clap your hands”. Then just before half time, Jervis jinked his way into the box only to see his effort from a tight angle turned away for a corner.
HT Darlo 0 Bulls 0
Manset worked his way passed a couple of defenders before pulling the ball back from the bye-line but Jervis’ effort from 8 yards was blocked by the keeper when he really should have scored. Lunt then released Manset who was felled some 20 yards from goal and from the free kick, a Darren Jones thunderbolt deflected off the wall. As The Bulls increased the pressure, Jervis chested down a Young centre and Manset’s first time volley brought a full length save from Redmond.
On 67 minutes, Turner brought on Matty Done and Gwynne for McQuilkin and Young. Pugh burst from midfield then released Jervis whose chipped cross was met by a spectacular bicycle kick from Manset that whistled just inches wide of the post before the only goal of the match came on 74 minutes. A Jervis/Manset combination saw the fall into the path of the onrushing Marc Pugh who finished well with a cross shot low into the far corner of the net from 15 yards.
Gray drove a shot over the bar and The Quakers produced a couple more off target efforts in a spirited final few minutes while late substitute Leon Constantine was through on goal but delayed his shot as the chance passed without threat.
FT Darlington 0 HUFC 1
The game produced little flowing football for the 2131 in attendance (probably a few less than a hundred Bulls) but the squad and management will consider it a job well done as the three points is a massive step towards another season in The Football League. Meanwhile, the pint of Nethergate's Mary's Ruby Mild was most acceptable
Darlington: Redmond, Arnison, White, Miller, Milne, Moore (M Smith 77), Dempsey (Convery 89), G Smith (Groves 89), Gray, Main, Purcell. Subs unused: Liversedge, Madden, Deane, Byrne.
Hereford: Bartlett, Green, Rose, Jones, Valentine, Young (Gwynne 67), Lunt, McQuilkin (Done 67), Pugh; Manset (Constantine 87), Jervis. Subs unused: Adamson, Preston, King, McCallum.