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With the home side wearing black and white hoops with black shorts, the Glovers lined up with an unusual mix of their red and black striped tops but white shorts. An injury to Phil Jevons saw an opportunity for recent “supersub” Bartosz Tarachulski to start up front, and Kevin Gall – the other match changing substitute at Wycombe seven days ago – began on the right of midfield, with Gavin Williams switching to the left flank and Adrian Caceres dropped to the bench. Yemi Odubade was a welcome addition to the list of Yeovil substitutes.
Darlington chose to play with three at the back, with wing backs Joe Kendrick and Ryan Valentine dropping back to help out when needed. A formidable (and not cheap!) front pairing of Clyde Wijnhard and Alun Armstrong emphasise how much the Quakers have improved since their relegation struggle during most of last season, and this time around their expectations for leaving League Two are directed toward League One rather than the Conference.
Former chairman George Reynolds is no longer involved with the club, allegedly now concentrating on avoiding becoming a guest of Her Majesty so we find ourselves watching from the same stand of the same ground as last year but our view is now the Williamson Motors Stadium rather than the Reynolds Arena. I was sure we would still see a game with no injuries and great excitement, so with a safe, cracking game in prospect [ouch! -ed], I tried to warm my hands to make notes in the bitter cold.
The first notable effort was a Andrejs Stolcers shot in the second minute after a Gavin Williams cross from the left, but this sailed over the bar. Darlington earned the first corner of the match four minutes later after Colin Miles defended a good ball into the area from Armstrong who had been put away on the right by strike partner Wijnhard.
Good control from Stolcers was let down by a weak shot which goal keeper Sam Russell took easily. With ten minutes gone a speculative long ball from Darren Way was poorly controlled by a Darlington defender and Kevin Gall nipped in for a good effort which was stopped by Russell. Way was on hand five minutes later to make an excellent tackle to end a promising Darlington attack, and then Miles was called upon to dispossess Wijnhard in a good central position.
Although Ian Clark then shot wide for Darlington, the first quarter of an hour or so had been slightly better for Yeovil, who had enjoyed more possession with the home side tending to attack on the break. A free kick awarded to Darlington in a dangerous position changed matters when Ryan Valentine fired the ball across for Alun ARMSTRONG to come in near the back post and head the ball home. 1 – 0.
The goal, which although not exactly against the run of play was certainly not indicative of the two sides play so far, acted as a bit of a wake up call for the Glovers who pushed forward. Darlington still looked like they could be dangerous on the break, and midway through the half Kevin Gall chased back to execute an excellent tackle. There were uneasy looks on the faces of the travelling supporters when Darlington were awarded a free kick in the same place as the one which created the goal, but this time the Glovers defended well.
Lee Johnson, pushing forward, sparked the game into life when he latched onto a poor back pass by Matt Clarke and took the ball around diving goal keeper Russell. With the goal seemingly at his mercy, the outstretched hand of the prone custodian appeared to catch the ankle of the Yeovil midfielder who crashed to the floor. Referee Mr Joslin was well behind play and, rather than point straight to he spot, charged up to speak to his assistant. With the away bench, players and supporters calling for a penalty, and the home support seemingly expecting the same, the referee reached into his pocket but instead of producing the expected red card for Russell he bizarrely produced a yellow card for Lee Johnson for diving! An astonishing decision given that Johnson seemed to have the goal at his mercy, and one that so incensed Gary Johnson that he had to leave the half time talk to Steve Thompson as he was so angry.
The incident seemed to spur the Glovers on, and a very good attacking spell followed. The excellent Paul Terry fired a ball across the area, which a defender managed to block. A Michael Rose free kick was blocked by the Darlington wall. A Colin Miles volley was well stopped by Russell at the cost of a corner. A great cross from Rose was headed toward goal by Scott Guyett and tipped over for another corner with a fine save.
With Yeovil pressing hard a Darlington break was always a danger, but fortunately when this happened Joe Kendrick shot high and very wide. The home side were packing their defence, crowding midfield, and looking for chances to break away quickly, and so far this – although largely thanks to a controversial decision – was working effectively.
Yeovil were looking to restore parity before the break and a Paul Terry cross just missed Bartosz Tarachulski before being cleared for another corner. Tarachulski then won the ball well, passing to Lee Johnson who then found Gavin Williams. Williams’ shot was blocked, and the rebound volleyed over by Johnson.
Into the last five minutes of the first half Tarachulski played in Stolcers on the left. His shot was well taken by Russell. A couple of minutes later Tarachulski again played in Stolcers on the left, and this time he beat Clarke before his powerful shot went over the bar. An excellent Darren Way shot was deflected for another corner. A minute before half time Tarachulski found Rose on the left, and his superb low cross was met by Stolcers who fired wide when he really should have hit the target.
Darlington reminded the crowd that their were two teams on the pitch when Wijnhard shot into the side netting, and Way put Kevin Gall through on the right flank but he shot over.
The sides left the field with Yeovil, who had actually shaded the first half without playing at their best, a goal behind.
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FA Cup Round One : Darlington 3 - 3 Yeovil Town
