7.45pm 10 January 2018
National League, North
Darlington 1 Salford City 2 (att 1,350)
If ever a fixture demonstrates how football fortunes can change it is this one. Darlington fans were used to following a Football League team until relegation in 2010, followed a couple of years later by the club going bust, and reforming in the Northern League.
In 2010 I doubt many of Salford's fans realised their city had a football team, but a high profile takeover by former Manchester United stars has seen the club climb the leagues, and they're now much closer to a Football League spot than Darlington.
The visitors kept their lead at the top of the National League North thanks to a late winner, which was harsh on a Darlington side who deserved a draw. They might have got something from the game if they hadn't spurned a second half penalty, which would have put them in front after a goalless first half.
Having failed from the penalty spot there was an air of inevitability that Salford would take the lead soon after. A Darlington equaliser gave the home support reason to cheer, but they were left cursing the visitors' late winner.
At least they're able to watch their team in their home town again. When they reformed, initially as Darlington 1883 before taking the name of the former club, they played at Bishop Auckland, but now they're settling into a Blackwell Meadows.
The ground, home to Darlington's rugby union club, feels close to bursting at the seams with over 1,300 inside, but a new stand will appear soon to ease the pressure. At present there's a seated stand on one side, a few more seats in front of the clubhouse on the opposite side, and a covered terrace at one end with the other end just flat open standing.
It wasn't my first visit to Blackwell Meadows. In 2006 I watched the oxymoronically-sounding Darlington Rugby Club Football Club play a Teesside League game on one of the complexes outer pitches.
National League, North
Darlington 1 Salford City 2 (att 1,350)
If ever a fixture demonstrates how football fortunes can change it is this one. Darlington fans were used to following a Football League team until relegation in 2010, followed a couple of years later by the club going bust, and reforming in the Northern League.
In 2010 I doubt many of Salford's fans realised their city had a football team, but a high profile takeover by former Manchester United stars has seen the club climb the leagues, and they're now much closer to a Football League spot than Darlington.
The visitors kept their lead at the top of the National League North thanks to a late winner, which was harsh on a Darlington side who deserved a draw. They might have got something from the game if they hadn't spurned a second half penalty, which would have put them in front after a goalless first half.
Having failed from the penalty spot there was an air of inevitability that Salford would take the lead soon after. A Darlington equaliser gave the home support reason to cheer, but they were left cursing the visitors' late winner.
At least they're able to watch their team in their home town again. When they reformed, initially as Darlington 1883 before taking the name of the former club, they played at Bishop Auckland, but now they're settling into a Blackwell Meadows.
The ground, home to Darlington's rugby union club, feels close to bursting at the seams with over 1,300 inside, but a new stand will appear soon to ease the pressure. At present there's a seated stand on one side, a few more seats in front of the clubhouse on the opposite side, and a covered terrace at one end with the other end just flat open standing.
It wasn't my first visit to Blackwell Meadows. In 2006 I watched the oxymoronically-sounding Darlington Rugby Club Football Club play a Teesside League game on one of the complexes outer pitches.
It pleases me no end to see Darlington climbing back up the ladder (or should that be pyramid?). I saw the old club's last match at Feethams, and later attended a match at that silly big Reynolds Arena.
ReplyDelete