Gaskell scores twice as Quakers crush Workington
By Ray Simpson
Darlington 4 Workington 0.The Quakers moved back to the top of the table on goal difference after a...
The Quakers moved back to the top of the table on goal difference after a thumping victory at home to Workington.
Lee Gaskell headed home a corner early on before Nathan Cartman scored the second prior to half-time.
Gaskell added his second mid-way through the second period before Leon Scott put the icing on the cake in stoppage-time.
Martin Gray made just one change to his starting 11 from Saturday, as Chris Hunter came back into the side in place of Tom Portas. Terry Galbraith partnered Hunter in the centre of defence.
Prior to the game there was a minute’s silence for Ron Greener and he would have been proud of the performance the Quakers put in.
[caption id="attachment_14146" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Darlington players pay their respects to Ron Greener[/caption]
It took only eight minutes for Darlington to take the lead, as Gaskell scored his fourth goal for the club with a thumping header from an Adam Mitchell corner.
[caption id="attachment_14148" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lee Gaskell heads the first goal[/caption]
Anthony Callaghan had a very good shout for a penalty after he appeared to be fouled in the area.
However, it wasn’t given and the Quakers shortly after had a scare at the other end. Pete Jameson came rushing out of his goal, but thankfully the defence got back to block the efforts to keep the score at 1-0.
Cartman made it 2-0 after 40 minutes with a deft header from a brilliant cross by left-back Callaghan.
[caption id="attachment_14149" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nathan Cartman celebrates after scoring the second goal[/caption]
Mitchell nearly got the third shortly after half-time when he raced clear only for his shot to go just past the far post.
Workington then thought they were back in the game after a rebound was turned in following a good stop by Jameson, but Matty Tymon's effort was ruled out for offside.
The Quakers always looked threatening going forward and the win was sealed after 65 minutes through Gaskell. A lovely passing move saw Cartman get in behind the defence before he pulled the ball back to Gaskell who turned and fired into the corner of the net.
[caption id="attachment_14150" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lee Gaskell fires the third[/caption]
Portas, Graeme Armstrong and Rob Youhill were all introduced with the game sewn up and captain Scott capped a great display with the fourth. Gaskell looked set to get his hat-trick as he burst into the box from the right, but slipped allowing Scott to put the ball into the net via a deflection.
The result was enough for Darlington to go back to the top of the table after Blyth Spartans were held to a 1-1 draw by Ashton United.
Premier Division
P W D L F A PTS GD
Darlington 17 10 3 4 37 18 33 +19
Blyth 16 10 3 3 29 17 33 +12
Nantwich 17 8 6 3 47 28 30 +19
Salford City 14 9 2 3 22 14 29 +8
Stourbridge 16 8 4 4 30 24 28 +6
Ilkeston 17 7 5 5 26 25 26 +1
Sutton Coldfield 17 7 5 5 22 23 26 -1
Darlington team: Jameson, Gibbons(sub Portas), Callaghan, Galbraith, Hunter, Thompson(sub Youhill), Mitchell, Turnbull, Scott, Cartman(sub Armstrong), Gaskell. Unused substitutes Provett, Lovegreen
Attendance: 1050