Story by Kevin Luff - 8th April 2006

Darlington improved upon a lacklustre first half performance at Torquay to win the game. A Wainwright wonder strike proving the difference

Bird flu might be the hot topic in the media at the moment but the only thing worth discussing in the wonderful, and never dull world of Darlington Football Club was Quakers' play-off push. Until a few weeks ago Darlington looked consigned to a disappointing end to the campaign. Two back to back wins however have revitalised what was a flagging season and put the North East side back in contention. With some difficult games coming up against Northampton, Cheltenham, Wycombe and Wrexham the visitors had to take advantage of Torquay's lowly position in League two.

With Darlington enjoying some decent form changes were light on the ground. Questions over the fitness of Matthew Clarke were allayed when he lined up in the starting eleven - wearing the captain's armband as always. Clark Keltie, fresh from suspension, was back in the side at the expense of youngster Mark McLeod. It was the returning midfielder who had the first chance for Darlington after just a minute. Jemal Johnson crossed in from the left at waist height and the best Keltie could do was swipe at the ball which landed on the roof of the net.

Whilst the first real chance fell to Quakers the Gulls started brightly. Sam Russell was called into action on a few occasions to deal with crosses. The most nervous moment came when Tony Bedeau found space down the right and cut past Ryan Valentine before going down in the corner of the box moments after Keltie's effort. Referee Mr Hegley was not moved and instead he waved away the appeal from the Gull's number seven. Torquay's dominance of the opening stages extended for the duration of the first half and left Quakers second best. Whilst there was a lack of polish at moments there was no denying their edge. The visitors were let off the hook shortly after the fifteen minute stage when Valentine tried to let the ball drift behind for a goal kick. The perseverance of Kevin Hill meant the Welshman was to be disappointed. He crossed from the left but Clarke did well and cleared under pressure from Thorpe.

Chances were still at a premium however. The best Quakers could muster in the first half was a cross to the far post which found Bates who set up David Duke to fire wide from the edge of the area. A minute shy from half an hour Craig Taylor beat Andy Cooke and broke up a rare promising Darlington move and hit it long for Bedeau who found space down the right before hitting a low shot across Russell which the Darlington keeper probably had covered. Five minutes later Torquay should have taken the lead when a throw in down the left was not dealt with by Martis. The ball broke to Thorpe yards out but his low shot which should have found the net was well smothered by Russell. On thirty-seven minutes Torquay's lively first half was rewarded when a short corner kick between Lee Andrews and Martin Philips found Hill at the far post who planted a towering header past Russell for the lead.

The Gulls half time lead was well deserved with Quakers off the boil and second best. Torquay United were forced into a half time change. Thorpe made way for Robinson but it failed to upset the tone the Gulls has established during the first forty-five minutes. Frustrations for Darlington were now apparent as Cooke tried to chase the ball down in the Torquay defensive third he appeared to upend Taylor on fifty-three minutes. The Gulls skipper clearly raised his arms in the afters that followed but referee Hegley only produced two cards, both yellow, one for Taylor and the other for Jemal Johnson. As the game dragged on towards the hour mark a change was evidently needed and it came with the introductions of Neil Wainwright and Akpo Sodje. Bates was removed along with Matty Appleby from midfield with Quakers shifting to a 4-4-2 system. Jemal Johnson moved out to wide on the left with Wainwright taking over duties on the opposite flank. This left Sodje and Cooke as the forward line seeking to level the scores.

Quakers, whilst far and away from top form, were slowly making in roads but still finding chances hard to come by. Shortly after the hour Sodje blazed wide from a difficult angle but was on target minutes later to level the scores. Valentine supplied the cross and Sodje netted from inside the heart of the eighteen yard box. Quickly the game had gone from a Torquay victory to wide open as the hosts missed an excellent chance to retake the lead. A long kick up field by Marriott on sixty-eight minutes should have been sorted out by the Darlington defence. Martis could only head the ball back towards goal and Kendrick tried to complete the clearance by steering the ball back to Russell in between the sticks. The Quakers shot stopper stayed rooted to his line and it allowed Bedeau a sniff of goal but he headed wide of the mark when he should have done far better.

With a draw no good for either side's ambitions the game continued to be more open and Quakers started to create some good openings in the closing stages of the game and a second goal started to likely. Jemal Johnson combined to release Simon Johnson down the left. He was felled in the area and the his namesake picked up the loose ball. His cross found Sodje but he handballed at the crucial moment. Seconds later Marriott did well to get down to a low Jemal Johnson shot and hold it with Sodje looking for scraps. The Darlington momentum was building and Neil Wainwright, one of the few members of the current squad to be involved in the last play-offs kept the dream alive. A corner ball headed goalwards by Martis was cleared but only as far as Wainwright who blasted home from outside the area to make it 2-1 and send the one-hundred and seventy or so Darlo fans home in jubilant mood.

Darlington's second half performance was well worthy of three points as the Gulls faded badly in the second half. They were not helped with the substitution of Thorpe at half time due to an asthma attack. They showed plenty of heart and desire but when Quakers levelled their heads appeared to drop. The hosts missed an excellent chance to retake the lead through Bedeau and from then on it always looked like Darlington's day in Devon would finally come after around ten years worth of fruitless travels to the south. It may have been a wonder goal to win it but Quakers had plenty of other chances.

Torquay United: Marriott, Andrews, Reed, Woods, Taylor, Garner (Sako 86), Hollands, Phillips (Kuffour 72), Bedeau, Thorpe (Robinson 45), Hill. Subs: Kuffour, Sako, Robinson, Villis, Hockley.

Darlington: Russell, Valentine, Kendrick, Appleby (Wainwright 57), Clarke, Bates (Sodje 57), Martis, Cooke (Simon Johnson 77), Duke, Keltie, Jemal Johnson. Subs: Wright, Peacock, Simon Johnson, Sodje, Wainwright.

Torquay bookings: Taylor.

Darlington bookings: Jemal Johnson.

Goals: Hill 37th min (0-1), Sodje 65th min (1-1), Wainwright 89th min (2-1).