Next season teams may be Quaking in their boots

Last updated : 26 May 2007 By Gary Moss

Final Position: 11

Top Goalscorer: Julian Joachim (10)

Player of the Season: Neil Wainwright

Wainwright was voted as Quaker fans player of the season this year.

Wainwright: Supporters' vote

The tall midfielder is dominant in the air and great at the supporting the strikers, having scored five league goals this season.

Naturally, the 29-year-old is a winger who looks to stick on the touchline and can deliver fine balls into the danger area.

He has had a great season making 32 starts for the club and creating chance after chance for his team-mates.

Against Notts: The travelling ruled this season as Notts shared the points with Darlington this year.

County grabbed a massive 1-0 win at the Darlington Arena. The game was a play-off six pointer at the time with both teams hoping to gun down a place in the top seven.

Ironically, it was Alan White who headed Nott's winner in the dying moments.

The Magpies first win in four games lifted them up to within a point of the play-off's again. The Quakers on the other hand fell to eleventh five points adrift.

Notts then ended their season at Meadow Lane with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Darlington.

In a game with little significance Brain Rowson netted an 82nd minute goal for the Quakers. In a game neither side really dominated, Notts missed out on a point as poor refereeing made it a stop-start affair as well as the hosts being denied two blatant spot-kicks.

Defining Moment: In mid-March The Quakers were in line for the play-off's having clawed back from their early season form.

But failure to beat sides above them proved their downfall.

They were trounced 3-0 against Hartlepool on their own patch and then could only manage a 1-1 draw with play-off contenders Lincoln. Defeat at Milton Keynes Dons and a 5-0 drubbing on the final game with Stockport really summed up their season.

These games in particular shaped the Quakers term. They never won the games that mattered against the sides that they were competing with and as a result did not deserve any more than an eleventh placed finish.

Highlight: With Dave Penny recently appointed, Darlington enjoyed a 100% record throughout November including wins over Lincoln, The MK Dons and at the time play-off contenders Chester City.

After a poor start to the campaign under former boss Dave Hodgson, it looked as if the new chief had turned the corner steering the Quakers to five straight league wins.

Lowlight: after a prosperous spell in November came December when Darlington failed to record any points.

Defeats in the FA Cup to Swansea as well as league losses to Wycombe, Notts County, Stockport and Shrewsbury saw Penny's side plunge back into the depths of mid-table.

The writing was on the wall at this stage that the season looked to be a campaign of ups and downs for the promotion chasing outfit.

The Mad Verdict: Darlington have endured another season of being the 'nearly men' of League Two.

They have a fine stadium, make several big signings and are always tipped to do well but yet again they just fell short.

Penny: Worth the money?
Replacing Dave Hodgson early in the season with Dave Penny promised successful times ahead for the Quakers. The new boss had a successful spell at Doncaster Rovers and it was believed he would be the man to end Darlington's inconsistency.

They had a dreadful start to the campaign winning just three of their opening eleven games but once Penny got to grips with his squad, a 100% record in November held a shining light for the Quakers.

Back into the play-off frame and Darlington faded once more.

They endured December without a win but picked up again in the New Year overcoming the likes of Grimsby, Peterborough and Bristol Rovers.

This was predictably to be followed by another slump as the season hit the back end of March. They went down 3-0 at home to Hartlepool which began a run of five without a win at exactly the wrong time. This saw their hope of the play-off's blown completely out of the window.

The Quakers are a frustrating side to say the least and this season I think they may have thrown away a huge chance of the play-off's- I expect the division to be a lot tougher next campaign.

In truth, it was their strikers that failed to produce. Former Premiership front man Alun Armstrong and Barry Conlon never really found any form in front of goal whilst big money signing Julian Joachim bought for £100,000 never lived up to his price tag as a 20-goal a season forward.

What's Next? Boss Dave Penny is ready to launch a summer clearout for the Quakers.

It is next year that he will really be judged having had time to bring in his own players to the club.

One arrival is ex-Notts skipper Alan White. The 31-year-old centre-back is due to sign for the club after his one year deal at Meadow Lane expires on July 1.

Penny will also recruit 26-year-old Scunthorpe defender Stephen Foster in his efforts to re-shuffle his back four ahead of next season.

Midfielder Rocky Ravenhill has also penned a contract after enjoying a loan spell from League Two rivals Grimsby Town.

The Quakers will have a new look side with only another five out of contract players in line for new deals.

With funds at the ready Darlington will again be strong favourites to clinch a play-off place next season.