Darlington

Darlington 1-2 Swindon
Two early goals were enough to extend Swindon's 100% start to the season and put them top of League Two. Chris Roberts was fouled by Patrick Collins on five minutes and Paul Evans stepped up to curl in the free-kick. Dennis Wise's side quickly doubled their lead when Roberts slipped in at the back post to convert Lee Peacock's flick-on after Andy Monkhouse's cross. Gaetano Giallanza tapped home just before half-time to give Darlington hope but the Robins held on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlington: Russell, Holloway (Close 72), Collins, Hutchinson, James, Cummins, Ngoma, Duke, Giallanza (Wainwright 81), Conlon, Smith (Joachim 67). Subs Not Used: Johnson, Stockdale. Booked: Ngoma, James, Close. Goals: Giallanza 45. Swindon: Brezovan, Jack Smith, Ifil, Williams, Vincent, Shakes, Evans, Weston, Monkhouse (Nicholas 52), Peacock (Brownlie 87), Roberts (Holgate 76). Subs Not Used: Onibuje, Jutkiewicz. Booked: Ifil. Goals: Evans 6, Roberts 21. Att: 4,571. Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Darlington land signing of Rowson
Darlington have clinched the signing of midfielder David Rowson. The 29-year-old, who was released by Northampton at the end of last season, has agreed a 12-month deal after playing for the Quakers in pre-season. Manager David Hodgson told his club's website: \"He has been part of two promotion-winning sides and I believe can help this team provide his third.\" Rowson also had a spell at Stoke in between stints with Aberdeen and Partick Thistle in his native Scotland.

Boss reveals secret of Darlo win
Darlington boss David Hodgson revealed the motivational secret behind his side's Carling Cup win over Championship side Stoke. Hodgson said: \"I pinned up a report of Accrington's win over Forest and made the players read it. \"They wanted to win more than Forest and we wanted to win more than Stoke. \"I did fear the worst when we were reduced to 10 men but sometimes things like that bond you together and our boys were inspired.\"

Keltie ruled out until November
Darlington midfielder Clark Keltie has been ruled out for six weeks with a troublesome ankle injury. Keltie picked up the knock in a league encounter at Boston United and will now undergo surgery at the weekend. It had been hoped that he would only be sidelined for a short time, but the nature of the injury proved harder than expected to diagnose. Keltie, 22, missed Darlington's last two games and is unlikely to be back in first-team action before October.

Walsall 1-0 Darlington
Walsall maintained their unbeaten record with a battling victory. Martin Butler scored the only goal, his third of the season, with a close-range finish after Carlos Fangueiro had flicked on a Dean Keates free-kick. The breakthrough came seconds before the interval after Walsall dominated and had forced Darlington's Patrick Collins into two goal-line clearances. Darlo soon improved and were denied when Clayton Ince saved from Julian Joachim and the rebound was blocked. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walsall: Ince, Westwood, Gerrard, Roper, Fox, Fangueiro (Sam 71), Keates, Pead (Dann 90), Wright, Constable (Taylor 45), Butler. Subs Not Used: Gilmartin, Demontagnac. Booked: Fangueiro, Roper. Goals: Butler 45. Darlington: Russell, Holloway (Johnson 56), Collins, Hutchinson, Duke, Ngoma, Cummins, Close, Giallanza, Joachim (Wainwright 84), Conlon (Carlos Logan 56). Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Janes. Booked: Russell, Giallanza. Att: 4,651 Ref: J Moss (England).

Quakers boss blames individuals
Darlington boss David Hodgson felt some of his players were found wanting as they were beaten 1-0 at Walsall. \"On Tuesday, we had 11 players who were fully committed and focused. Today, we had about seven - three players in my opinion were not quite there,\" he said. \"The goal came down to a lack of communication. All it needed was (keeper) Sam Russell to scream 'head it back' or clear it. Not leave it. \"With that, the ball ends up in the net and that is disappointing.\"

Proctor to leave Quakers for Hibs
Darlington have announced that assistant manager Mark Proctor is leaving the League Two club to join Scottish Premier League side Hibernian. The 45-year-old played alongside Hibs manager Tony Mowbray at Middlesbrough. He previously coached at Boro's academy before joining the Quakers as David Hodgson's assistant \"I would love to be a manager somewhere someday, and maybe I need to go to Hibs to take that next step,\" Proctor told the Northern Echo newspaper. \"I need to progress as a coach, so going to Hibs is a new challenge. \"I want to be a manager, but David is going nowhere because he is doing a good job with Darlington.\" Born in Middlesbrough, Proctor's playing career took in two spells with his home town club, as well as time at Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere and Hartlepool. He guided Boro's youngsters to victory in the FA Youth Cup final in 2004.

Draw at Darlington pleases Atkins
Torquay manager Ian Atkins was satisfied after his team's draw at Darlington on Friday. \"I am proud of the players,\" Atkins told the club's official website. \"They stuck at their tasks. \"We soaked up punishment but threatened at every chance. Once again injuries upset our game plan but the lads adjusted and kept their heads well. \"New boy Adam Murray slotted in well and I thought goalkeeper Nathan Abbey was outstanding.\"

Hodgson to stay as Quakers boss
Darlington manager David Hodgson is to remain in charge following a meeting with chairman George Houghton. Hodgson's future had been the subject of speculation after getting just one point from the last four League games. His relationship with chief executive Jon Sotnick, who arrived at Darlington from Boston United during the summer, was also said to be strained. Houghton also met with Sotnick and said both men will continue in their posts and \"work towards future success.\" Houghton said in a statement: \"I have personally intervened to resolve matters between the manager and the chief executive following a series of damaging Press reports. \"I have supported both men and emphasised the positive changes they have each brought to Darlington FC.\" He added: \"Now is the time for internal unity and cohesion and both men at the top of the club have pledged to me they will work towards future success. \"I am convinced that my meetings with both men have restored balance and harmony to my management team.\"

Peterborough 1-3 Darlington
Darlington cruised to victory over Peterborough, largely thanks to three goals in the opening 24 minutes. Barry Conlon opened the scoring with a penalty after Chris Plummer fouled Gaetano Giallanza and Julian Joachim added the second with sweet shot. Joachim scored his second after exchanging passes with Giallanza before Danny Crow pulled one back for Posh. But the victory was soured by Giallanza's late dismissal after a clash with Peterborough's Adam Newton. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peterborough: Tyler, Newton, Arber, Branston, Plummer (Gain 25), Stirling, Holden, Butcher, Richards (Benjamin 71), Opara, Crow. Subs Not Used: Carden, Day, Ghaichem. Booked: Newton. Goals: Crow 81. Darlington: Russell, Vaisanen, Collins, Hutchinson, Close, Ngoma (Smith 71), Cummins, Rowson, Giallanza, Joachim, Conlon (Armstrong 83). Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Duke, Johnson. Sent Off: Giallanza (79). Booked: Giallanza, Russell. Goals: Conlon 3 pen, Joachim 21, 24. Att: 3,848. Ref: S Bratt (West Midlands).

Darlington v Bury
Darlington striker Gaetano Giallanza is suspended following his dismissal in the win at Peterborough. Craig James returns from suspension to replace him but Ville Vaisanen is a doubt with a hamstring strain. Bury striker Andy Bishop is likely to miss out after picking up a knee injury in the weekend defeat at Torquay. Marc Pugh has not featured in a month with a knee injury and is doubtful but Bury have extended Nottingham Forest striker Jon-Paul Pitman's loan spell.

Darlington 1-0 Bury
Barry Conlon notched a second-half penalty to earn a home victory for Darlington against Bury. Bury's Nicky Adams cleared a Julian Joachim header off the line early on, while keeper Kasper Schmeichel made a great save from the veteran striker. Darlington's Martin Smith and Kalu Ngoma both went close before the break. Conlon, who had already hit the crossbar, scored the penalty on 66 minutes after Dave Challinor was adjudged to have handled in the area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Darlington: Russell, Close, Hutchinson, Collins, James, Cummins (Duke 90), Ngoma, Rowson, Smith (Johnson 76), Conlon (Armstrong 77), Joachim. Subs Not Used: Stockdale, Wainwright. Booked: Ngoma. Goals: Conlon 67 pen. Bury: Schmeichel, Brass, Challinor, Scott, Kennedy, Adams, Baker, Mattis, Buchanan (Goodfellow 82), Youngs, Pittman (Taylor 82). Subs Not Used: Fettis, Woodthorpe, Barry-Murphy. Att: 3,335 Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Darlington v Bristol Rovers
Darlington may recall Alun Armstrong or Simon Johnson to lead the attack Martin Smith, Julian Joachim or Barry Conlon could be rested, while Gaetano Giallanza serves the second game of a three-match suspension. Bristol Rovers will be without the suspended James Hunt, who is banned after his sending off at Torquay. Lewis Haldane may come back into contention for a place in attack, rivalling Rickie Lambert and Richard Walker for a starting spot.

Darlington 2-2 Grimsby
Grimsby's remarkable fightback earned them a draw against 10-man Darlington. Martin Smith scored twice in the first half, beating Phil Barnes with a couple of incisive finishes. But the home side lost control of the game after they were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute when Darren Holloway saw red after conceding a penalty. Ciaran Toner sent Sam Russell the wrong way to make it 2-1 and when the home team's keeper was unable to hold Tony Thorpe's shot, Ricky Ravenhill pounced. Darlington: Russell, Duke, Vaisanen, Holloway, James, Keltie, Ngoma, Cummins, Armstrong (Conlon 76), Giallanza (Johnson 61), Smith, Johnson (Wainwright 78). Subs Not Used: Rowson, Stockdale. Sent Off: Holloway (65). Booked: Keltie, James. Goals: Armstrong 8, Smith 25. Grimsby: Barnes, McDermott (Newey 87), Whittle, Fenton, Croft, Ravenhill, Bolland, Toner, Bore, Jones, Thorpe. Subs Not Used: Beagrie, Boshell, Chamberlain, Taylor. Booked: Ravenhill. Goals: Toner 66 pen, Ravenhill 82. Att: 3,636. Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).

Gray keen to forget terrible week
Darlington assistant caretaker boss Martin Gray admitted Friday's 5-0 home trouncing to Rochdale rounded off a \"very difficult week\" for the club. Having sacked manager David Hodgson on Wednesday, the Quakers crashed to their fifth defeat of the season. And Gray, who is now assisting Neil Maddison in running first team affairs said: \"That just topped our week off. \"Not enough people stood up and were counted but come Monday we've got to get these players up again.\" Gray added: \"Me and Neil have got to bring some defenders in. That is a must, there is no getting away from it. \"After that we've got to go and try and get three points at Hereford next weekend.\"

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