We got our first chance in the fifth minute, when Koroma’s pressing caused a defensive error on the edge of the box. Barnes-Homer intercepted and strode into the area, but his shot was easily parried away.
The striker didn’t make the same mistake twice. Shuker made it onto the end of Nutter’s lofted through ball on the half hour mark. The winger crossed for Barnes-Homer, who took one touch before firing the ball past the wrong-footed Darlington keeper. It was his first league goal in eight matches.
Barnes-Homer turned provider just after the break. He made an incisive run along the right side, then crossed low from the byline. Koroma got to the ball first, and he never misses from that close. We were two-nil up and in control of a match everyone said we’d lose. Surprise, surprise. Our incredible away form continues.
Darlington pulled one back in the 54th minute, however, keeping things interesting. Fergus Bell made the goal with a great individual effort, dribbling from a central position 30 yards out to cross from the byline on the left wing. Nutter looked like he would get a clearance away, but Foster snuck in and tapped the ball into the back of the net.
The match ebbed and flowed for the next half hour, with both sides creating chances but neither able to convert. Then Darlington pulled level from a set piece with eight minutes to spare. From deep in our half, Brown threw in short to Bell—who crossed low to the edge of the six-yard box. Bridge-Wilkinson broke free from his man to fire home. All square with less than ten minutes to play, and our wingers looking tired, I wondered if we had enough juice left in the tank to retake the lead.
I thought we had it in the 89th minute. A great bit of direct passing led to a chance for substitute Laurent on the edge of the box. But the Frenchman fired his shot over the bar.
Moments later, Barnes-Homer was dragged down inches outside the penalty area. Shuker hit the crossbar with the resultant free kick. Then we ran out of time.
Barnes-Homer took man of the match, despite his failing to carry us to victory in the closing stages. Meanwhile, we move one point clear at the top of the table. But 2nd-placed Mansfield still have a match to play.
Darlington manager Craig Liddle praised me for getting my players to move the ball around. I in turn praised him for the fine job he’s done in charge of the troubled club.
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