There's no such thing as revenge in football according to Dave Penney but the sweet taste of a four-nil hammering of last season's nemesis' Stockport must elicit a wry smile on the gaffers face. Two Tommy Wright goals either side of Joachim and Blundell's strikes kicked a largely ineffective County deep into touch with a confident and clinical display of attacking, much through the lightning legs of the brilliant debutant Johann Smith.
Seldom will you see a more assured first half display than the Quakers' in the first forty-five minutes. Despite a slow pace to the play Darlington managed to sneak into a two goal lead on the half hour without really breaking sweat. Much of the good early play was thanks to debutant winger Johann Smith who looked dangerous every time he had the ball at his feet, desperate to bomb on with an arsenal of tricks and turns at his disposal to put the frighteners well and truly on his opposition number. His desire to chase the ball to the by line and attack the box made him an instant hit and importantly added a crucial piece to the Penney jigsaw providing a balance and an effective outlet on the left flank Darlington have craved through out the campaign.
It was however a defensive blunder that has to be credited for Tommy Wright's opener. The workhorse netted his sixth of the season after he took the ball from under keeper Conrad Logan's nose before rounding the red-faced stopper and cheekily tap into an open net. But take nothing away from Wright, the mentality to press the keeper until the ball was in his hands won him that goal and for the effort he has continually put in since the beginning of August warrants the bit of good fortune he got after Alan White arrowed the ball into the box.
And seven minutes later the Quakers doubled their lead through a wonderfully crafted Joachim strike displaying all the hall marks of a player who has played his trade at the top level for much of his career. Joachim has been an ever present this season, not missing a minute of action in his reverted right midfield role, and netting for the first time since the opening day of the season he fairly nonchalantly crept his way to the edge of the six yard box to meet the cross from the left perfectly to angle past Logan with the outside for his right boot.
At this stage Darlington were in relative cruise control as Jim Gannon's Stockport offered little resistance, a mere shadow of the team that desecrated the now defiant Quakers twice last season. With not many comings and goings to report at Edgerley park since the teams last met, which incidentally was the last home league defeat inflicted upon Penney's side, its pretty much a mystery as to why they had transformed into a monotonous long ball team, and from the evidence of the first period one that had little idea what to do when they did get possession n the final third.
Nonetheless Stockport showed much more steel and resolve as the second period got under way making Andy Oakes work for his money on the Sabbath day angling a couple of tasty free kick efforts marginally wide of the bar and post whilst Dickinson and Thompson also forced saves out of the veteran gloves man who continues to grow in stature and composure as the games go by turning in again a absolutely professional display. It's going to be a welcome conundrum when Stockdale returns from injury with both keepers proving faultless to date.
A couple of scares were short lived and the efficiency of the rearguard means no spell under the cosh is too big a deal these days. However any doubts of County being able to forge a comeback were appeased on the stroke of eighty minutes as Gregg Blundell latched onto a terrific through pass from the left flank cutting the visiting defence in half and allowing the returning to form striker all the time and space he required to pick his spot and knock past the stranded Logan, albeit the goalkeeper managed to get a bit of his body on the shot to send it trickling over the line.
It's these sort of goal everyone has been expecting from Blundell since he signed from Chester last season. He undoubtedly has the pace and workrate to cause all manner of problems and now he has fast growing confidence the Scouce whippet should prove to be a huge asset to the team. Speaking of huge asset, Tommy Wright's cult status is seemingly uncurbable and his bulldozing frame didn't need asking twice to rattle a header back across goal into the side netting after some mouthwatering work by the magician Joann Smith on the left flank. This guy oozes class and on the basis of his debut will be a colossus over the next month, his get-in-the-box approach to the game likely to scare League two defences as much has he did in League One for Carlisle at the end of last season.
An elastic double save from Oakes minutes from the end ensured another unblemished defensive performance from the impenetrable backline who are seemingly unconcerned about any level of pressure and clear their lines thoroughly and decisively. Oakes save at the game's climax typifies the foundations of this season's so far successful start to the season, always alert and ready for action and a reassuring influence that the attack can go gung ho if necessary and not be too concerned. It is arguable that four goals perhaps slightly flattered the Quakers but they made chances and they converted them. This was a Dave Penney performance, faultless at the back, clinical in attack and you can't say any fairer than that.
Darlington: Oakes, Purdie, White, Foster, Ryan (Ravenhill 35), Joachim, Keltie, Cummins, Smith, Green (Blundell 76), Wright (Miller 90). Subs: Brooks-Meade, Barrua, Blundell, Miller, Ravenhill.
Stockport: Logan, Bowler, Raynes (Griffin 73), Williams, Tierney, Thompson (Proudlock 63), Taylor, Blizzard, Pilkington (Turnbull 46), McNeil, Dickinson. Subs: Adamson, Tansey, Proudlock, Turnbull, Griffin.
Darlington bookings: Wright, Smith.
Stockport bookings: Proudlock.
Goals: Wright 21st min (1-0), Joachim 28th min (2-0), Blundell 81st min (3-0), Wright 85th min (4-0).
Report by Garry Mann.
