Saturday 10th April 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three

Darlington 1 Mansfield Town 0

Darlington: Michael Price, Ryan Valentine, Jonathan Hutchinson, Matt Clarke, Clark Keltie, Brian Close, Neil Wainwright, Neil Maddison (David McGurk 71), Barry Conlon, Mark Convery (Ian Clark 76), Danny Graham (Neil Teggart 83). Subs not used: Jack Norton, Craig Russell.

Goals: Matt Clarke 48

In a must-win game for both clubs at either ends of the table, it was the home side who ran out eventual winners. Stags goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington had to be alert in just the third minute when Barry Conlon headed goalwards and the shotstopper tipped inches over the crossbar. From the ensuing flag-kick the front man nodded just wide.

David Graham whacked one upright in the seventh minute, and then astoundingly struck the other one in the very next attack before Conlon headed against the crossbar twenty minutes in. Wayne Corden was denied by Michael Price at the other end in a lively start.

Colin Larkin whacked an upright at the same end and Corden flashed wide as Mansfield ended the half the stronger, but it was the hosts that took the advantage three minutes after the half-time interval. Mark Convery’s corner was only half-cleared and Matt Clarke headed in the loose ball. Rhys Day went closest to denying Darlo the three points, but he could not direct his effort on target and the Quakers had their first win since early March.

Saturday 3rd April 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three

Boston United 1 Darlington 0

Darlington: Michael Price, Jonathan Hutchinson, Craig Liddle, Neil Maddison (Clark Keltie 84), Brian Close, Neil Wainwright, Barry Conlon, Danny Graham, Craig Russell (Ian Clark 85), Matt Clarke, Neil Teggart (Mark Convery 72). Subs not used: Jack Norton, Ryan Valentine.

Darlington were unfortunate not to claim more from a dour clash at York Street, with victory for the Pilgrims all but securing their Third Division status for 2004/5 and placing them in their highest-ever Football League position of eleventh.

It was the visitors who looked more likely to score early on as Barry Conlon fired over and then forced Paul Bastock into a fine save. Still in the sixth minute, Neil Teggart watched as his low drive was deflected into the grateful gloves of Bastock and midway through the first half, Craig Russell’s low cross was hacked off of the line by Lee Beevers with Teggart almost certain to score.

Bastock saved a Conlon header at the second attempt on 35 minutes, but on the stroke of half-time, Boston took the lead with their first worthwhile attack. David Noble’s corner was headed goalwards by Steve Melton and the goal was awarded only when the linesman flagged that the ball had crossed the line.

The second half saw a similar story as Teggart’s shot was defected wide by Paul Ellender, but the hosts did look more threatening this time around as Lee Thompson sliced a corner wide and Melton skimmed a shot across the face of goal. Bastock denied Conlon and Matt Clarke and Beevers blocked a Graham effort as Darlo desperately searched for a share of the spoils, but it was not to be.

Saturday 27th March 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three

Darlington 1 Torquay United 1

Darlington: Michael Price, Craig Liddle, Ryan Valentine, Jonathan Hutchinson, Chris Hughes (Neil Wainwright 59), Neil Maddison, Barry Conlon, Mark Convery (Danny Graham 67), Craig Russell (Brain Close 60), Neil Teggart, Matt Clarke. Subs not used: Jack Norton, Ian Clark.

Goal: Barry Conlon 2

Darlington failed to hold onto an early lead as promotion-chasing Torquay United left the Reynolds Arena with a point. Barry Conlon gave the Quakers a second-minute lead when Lee Canoville’s attempted clearance smacked into the centre-forward and rebounded past Kevin Dearden.

David Graham blazed over the crossbar as the visitors fought back quickly, and Steve Woods did likewise. Conlon nodded a Ryan Valentine cross straight at Dearden when it was easier to score whilst at the other end Canoville struck straight at Michael Price.

Craig Russell tested Dearden four minutes after the break and Conlon wasted another chance twenty minutes in. And the former Southend striker was forced to pay for his wastefulness a minute later as David Graham found himself alone in the Darlo box and he fired low into the bottom corner of the net past Price. There was still time for Dearden to deny Conlon for a third time, and both teams had to settle for a point.

Saturday 20th March 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three

Doncaster Rovers 1 Darlington 1

Darlington: Michael Price, Craig Liddle, Ryan Valentine, Jonathan Hutchinson, Chris Hughes, Neil Maddison, Barry Conlon, Mark Convery (Clark Keltie 77), Craig Russell, Neil Teggart (Danny Graham 79), Matt Clarke (Brian Close 31). Subs not used: Jack Norton, Ian Clark.

Goal: Mark Convery 59

A late first Football League goal from Adebayo Akinfenwa handed Doncaster Rovers an equaliser against Darlington, who threw away yet another lead. In strong winds, Doncaster had the first half advantage but even more forceful performances from defenders Craig Liddle and Jonathan Hutchinson meant that Darlo went in at the interval level.

Ricky Ravenhill fired over just two minutes in and Michael Price’s acrobatics meant that Dave Mulligan was denied with his twenty-yard drive. Liddle cleared a Steve Foster headed off of the goalline and Leo Fortune-West watched substitute Brian Close do likewise minutes later. Mulligan closed out the half with another stinging twenty-yarder.

But the Quakers first effort on target in the second half saw them take the lead. 59 minutes had passed when Craig Russell’s corner was not properly cleared and Mark Convery hit a swerving shot just the right side of the frame of the goal. Mark Albrighton was denied by Price as it didn’t appear to be the promotion-pushers’ day.

Then up popped Akinfenwa. The substitute forward pounced as Price could only parry out Chris Brown’s effort on goal and slotted home to the delight of the 7,178-strong crowd. Craig Russell could have snatched it for the visitors in stoppage time, but he hurriedly blasted wide after good work from Danny Graham.

Saturday 13th March 2004 – Nationwide League Division Three

Darlington 3 Cambridge United 4

Darlington: Michael Price, David McGurk, Craig Liddle, Ryan Valentine, Matt Clarke, Neil Wainwright (Clark Keltie 86), Ian Hughes, Neil Maddison (Brian Close 67), Barry Conlon, Mark Convery (Ian Clark 67), Craig Russell. Subs not used: Jack Norton, Jonathan Hutchinson.

Goals: Mark Convery 26, Clark Keltie 86, Matt Clarke 86

Darlington’s run of six wins from eight games had hauled them clear of the drop zone at their visitors’ expense, but they were pulled back in after Cambridge United won a thrilling encounter, which preserved John Taylor’s job as manager for another week at least.

Mark Convery gave Darlington the lead as they were enticed to do most of the pressing. The midfielder sent a low shot past Shaun Marshall from 25 yards after a Craig Russell corner. But the U’s were soon on level terms as loanee Jermaine Easter collected a through-ball from Luke Guttridge to steer past Michael Price.

And the former Shrimpers trialist was beaten again ten minutes later when he dropped a Guttridge free-kick and another former United man, striker Daniel Webb, cleaned up. Price made amends when he raced out to deny Webb after an hour but there was precious little he could do about the onslaught that followed.

He parried out one Easter effort, but the striker tucked home the rebound midway through the first half, and then Guttridge’s 81^st-minute cross confused the custodian into dropping the ball over the goalline. That left Darlo 4-1 down, and despite Clark Keltie and Matt Clarke notching goals within a minute, they could not find an equaliser in the four minutes that remained.

Summary – Shrimpers vs. Quakers last five matches

Darlington

W1-0 (home; Mansfield Town; League Division Three; Matt Clarke)

L0-1 (away; Boston United; League Division Three)

D1-1 (home; Torquay United; League Division Three; Barry Conlon)

D1-1 (away; Doncaster Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Convery)

L3-4 (home; Cambridge United; League Division Three; Mark Convery, Clark Keltie, Matt Clarke)

(Won 1, Drawn 2, Lost 2, Scored 6, Conceded 7)

Southend United

L0-1 (away; Huddersfield Town; League Division Three)

W4-2 (home; Scunthorpe United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2, Drewe Broughton, Leon Cort)

W2-1 (away; Carlisle United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2 [1 pen])

L0-2 (neutral; Blackpool; LDV Vans Trophy final)

D2-2 (away; Lincoln City; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2)

(Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 2, Scored 8, Conceded 8)

Summary – Shrimpers home form vs. Quakers away form

Southend United

W4-2 (Scunthorpe United; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2, Drewe Broughton, Leon Cort)

D1-1 (Swansea City; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

W1-0 (Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Lawrie Dudfield)

D1-1 (Colchester United; LDV Vans Trophy; Drewe Broughton)

W3-0 (Kidderminster Harriers; League Division Three; Leon Constantine 2 [2p], Lawrie Dudfield)

(Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 0, Scored 10, Conceded 4)

Darlington

L0-1 (Boston United; League Division Three)

D1-1 (Doncaster Rovers; League Division Three; Mark Convery)

W1-0 (Macclesfield Town; League Division Three; Craig Russell)

D1-1 (Bury; League Division Three; Barry Conlon)

W3-0 (Bristol Rovers; League Division Three; Craig Liddle, Barry Conlon 2)

(Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 1, Scored 6, Conceded 3)