Darlington

Wycombe 0-1 Darlington
David Duke struck five minutes after half-time to secure the points for 10-man Darlington and keep their slim hopes of a play-off spot alive. Wycombe, already assured of a top-seven finish, started well and tested Quakers keeper Sam Russell through Tommy Mooney and Russell Martin. And the hosts looked odds-on for the win when visiting skipper Matt Clarke saw red for fouling Ian Stonebridge. But Duke's solo run and finish from 20 yards stole the points for Darlington. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wycombe: Talia, Senda, Johnson, Antwi, Easton, Martin, Bloomfield, Lee, Betsy, Mooney, Stonebridge. Subs Not Used: Williams, Williamson, Oakes, Burnell, Easter. Booked: Antwi, Mooney. Darlington: Russell, Valentine, Clarke, Martis, Duke, Keltie, Simon Johnson, Dickman, Carlos Logan (Maddison 62), Sodje (Cooke 88), Bates (Wainwright 45). Subs Not Used: McLeod, Wright. Sent Off: Clarke (44). Goals: Duke 50. Att: 5,840 Ref: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Darlington 1-1 Wrexham
Andy Cooke's injury-time strike rescued a draw for Darlington against Wrexham but was not enough for a play-off spot. Darlington needed to beat Wrexham by a large margin, although Lincoln's draw against Rochdale ultimately meant even a win would not have been enough. The home side appeared to be heading for defeat after Danny Williams' long-range effort put Wrexham ahead. But in the last moments of the game Cooke headed home from close range after a scramble from a corner kick. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlington: Russell, Valentine, Martis, McGurk, Duke, Simon Johnson, Keltie, Dickman (McLeod 63), Carlos Logan (Wainwright 63), Bates (Cooke 63), Sodje. Subs Not Used: Wright, Maddison. Goals: Cooke 90. Wrexham: Ingham, Roche, Danny Williams, Pejic, Mike Williams, Bennett, Crowell, Done (Ferguson 82), Holt, Walters (Marc Williams 87), Derbyshire. Subs Not Used: Michael Jones, Spender, Evans. Booked: Mike Williams. Goals: Danny Williams 31. Att: 4,648 Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Quakers pair fit for next season
Darlington boss David Hodgson believes Joey Hutchinson and Brian Close will be fit for the new season. Hutchinson suffered a serious cruciate problem at Carlisle on Boxing Day and has not kicked a ball this year. Close has also had ankle problems which have disrupted his season but Hodgson is confident that both will be fighting fit for the start of the new campaign. He told the club's website: "Joey will be back without doubt for next season as will Brian Close."

Boss adds trio to Port Vale squad
Port Vale boss Martin Foyle has acquired the services of Jason Talbot, Richard Walker and Akpo Sodje. Talbot, 20, has joined permanently having spent the last three months on loan at Vale Park from Mansfield and made four appearances. Defender Walker, 25, has left Crewe, while striker Akpo Sodje, 26, has signed from Darlington. Foyle told the club's website: "We are quite pleased at the moment and there will be more good news next week."

Hodgson backing Stamp to improve
Darlington boss David Hodgson is backing midfielder Phil Stamp to be a major force next season, now that his injury problems have been diagnosed. "Phil could be the best footballer in this league if he wanted," Hodgson told the Quakers' website. "Last season, we never really got to the bottom of his calf injury - it was a hidden tear that couldn't be found on scans or X-ray. "But now he has to solve the problem by losing six or seven pounds."

Darlington complete double swoop
Darlington boss David Hodgson has completed a double swoop with the capture of defender Craig James and goalkeeper David Stockdale. James, 23, was released by Port Vale during the close season and had a previous spell at Darlington. Twenty-year-old Stockdale's previous club was York, and both he and James have joined on one-year contracts. Hodgson told Quakers' website: \"I now feel I have the strength in depth to cope with the new season.\"

Darlington 4-0 Macclesfield
A Barry Conlon hat-trick eased Darlington to a win over Macclesfield. Conlon, who returned to the club in the summer after leaving two years ago, got off the mark after Gaetano Giallanza had put the home side ahead. He headed in Clark Keltie's cross after 34 minutes and beat the offside trap to tap home Giallanza's cross from close range for his second. Conlon completed his hat-trick when he pounced on a defensive mix-up to score from two yards. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlington: Russell, Collins, Martis (Holloway 75), Hutchinson, James, Keltie, Ngoma (Duke 66), Cummins, Conlon, Giallanza, Smith (Johnson 75). Subs Not Used: Wainwright, Carlos Logan. Goals: Giallanza 12, Conlon 32, 41, 73. Macclesfield: Lee, Regan, Morley, Swailes, McNulty, Bullock, Navarro (Heath 69), Miles (Hadfield 55), McIntyre, Robinson, McNeil. Subs Not Used: Brain, Brightwell, Teague. Att: 4,095 Ref: G Sutton (Lincolnshire).

Hodgson salutes Conlon hat-trick
Darlington boss David Hodgson was delighted for striker Barry Conlon after he bagged a hat-trick in their 4-0 opening day win over Macclesfield. \"He is going to be over the moon with that,\" Hodgson said. \"That's a fantastic start. For him, that is three on the way to him getting the 20 he thinks he'll get this season. \"Apart from the first 10 minutes, the movement was good, the technique was good and the work ethic was good right across the board.\"

Pilgrims reject Joachim approach
Darlington have had a \"formal offer\" for 30-year-old striker Julian Joachim rejected by Boston United. Pilgrims manager Steve Evans kept the figure undisclosed but admitted the bid was a \"sizeable five-figure-sum\" with the potential to rise to six figures. Evans said: \"The chairman told me he had turned it down after he talked it through with his fellow board members. \"I know how tight things are so obviously I am delighted that 'Jockey' is still here.\" After scoring against Grimsby on Saturday, Joachim is likely to start up front again on Wednesday evening at home to Peterborough.

Boss Hodgson happy to spoil party
Darlington manager David Hodgson was happy to put a dampener on Accrington's Stanley homecoming as a League club with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday night. Stanley were playing their first home League fixture in 44 years following promotion but could not stop the Quakers gaining their second win. He said: \"They will win games here, but I wanted to spoil their party. \"I have to be pleased with the performance and we got what we deserved the three points.\" Hodgson added: \"This is not the nicest place to come and I am sure a lot of teams will be deflated. Other teams will say it's not very nice but let?s get the points, and I had that team.\"

Hibs sign up Darlington's Martis
Hibernian have completed the signing of defender Shelton Martis from Darlington on a three-year deal. The 23-year-old Dutchman started this season on a week-to-week contract with the English League Two side after turning down extended terms. \"He is someone we watched on a regular basis last season,\" Hibs manager Tony Mowbray told the club website. \"Whilst he is still relatively young for a centre half, he is a composed, athletic and competitive defender.\" Martis joined Darlington in summer 2005 from lower league football in the Netherlands. He went on to make 45 appearances for the club last season and featured in the club's opening two games of this campaign. Meanwhile, Hibs striker Paul Dalglish may be on his way out at Easter Road after spending last week in America. The Houston Chronicle reports that the former Livingston, Newcastle and Norwich player was on trial with MLS side Houston Dynamo last week.

Boston 4-1 Darlington
Julian Joachim scored two goals and made the other two as Boston romped to victory over Darlington. Paul Tait put Boston ahead from close range, firing in Joachim's cross but Barry Conlon turned in Martin Smith's centre to pull the Quakers level. The Pilgrims made it 2-1 when Tim Ryan notched from the spot after Joachim was bundled over by Darren Holloway. Joachim then made the game safe with two late goals, the second of which was a fierce 15-yard shot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boston Utd: Marriott, Canoville, Albrighton, Ellender, Tim Ryan, Green (Galbraith 83), Greaves, Holland, Clarke (Talbot 86), Joachim (Forbes 90), Tait. Subs Not Used: Kirby, Farrell. Booked: Green. Goals: Tait 13, Tim Ryan 68 pen, Joachim 76, 90. Darlington: Russell, Holloway, Collins, Hutchinson, James, Cummins (Wainwright 83), Ngoma (Duke 68), Keltie, Smith (Johnson 73), Giallanza, Conlon. Subs Not Used: Carlos Logan, Close. Goals: Conlon 30. Att: 1,934. Ref: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire).

Darlington sign striker Joachim
Darlington have signed striker Julian Joachim from Boston United. The 30-year-old, who scored twice in United 4-1 victory over Darlington at the weekend, was given permission to talk to the League Two side on Monday. The former Aston Villa, Leicester and Leeds player agreed personal terms and passed a medical. Darlington had a \"formal offer\" for Joachim rejected last week, with Pilgrims boss Steve Evans stating the bid was a \"sizeable five-figure-sum\".

Armstrong set for Quakers return
Darlington are planning to add to the capture of Julian Joachim by bringing fellow striker Alun Armstrong back for a second spell at the club. The ex-Stockport and Ipswich forward, 31, played for the Quakers between September 2004 and October 2005. He is set to return to the north-east club after leaving Rushden & Diamonds at the end of last season. \"We still need cover in that area and Alun will provide that,\" manager David Hodgson told the Northern Echo. \"Alun has been a bit unlucky with injuries, but he is a player who can score goals.\"

Darlington v Swindon
Darlington have new signings Julian Joachim and Alun Armstrong available after both came to the club in midweek. Boss David Hodgson has no other injury worries, but may make changes after last weekend's 4-1 loss to Boston. Swindon should have Ady Williams available after the former Wales international recovered after turning an ankle in training. Andy Gurney and Gareth Whalley are both unavailable as they remain sidelined by ankle injuries.

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