The Shrimps looked all set to become only the third team to win at the Darlington Arena this season as they led 2-0 with just five minutes left.

But then things went horribly wrong.

The home side pulled a goal back through Jason Kennedy's tap-in on 85 minutes and then Morecambe committed their own version of football suicide as they piled forward in the final minute and left a hug gap.
Instead of keeping possession, they lost the ball and were left exposed and Guy Ndumbu-Nsungu scored with a fine strike from the edge of the box.

It was a shame to end the game on such a low note as for the majority of the match the Shrimps were excellent against a very good Darlington side.

Sammy McIlroy's team were in charge for long periods and kept out the Quakers well despite losing skipper Jim Bentley with a hamstring injury early on. Jamie Burns came in for the soon-to-be suspended Danny Adams and did well while young keeper Scott Davies again showed his promise with two stunning saves.

Davies was called into action in only the second minute with a superb flying stop from an Alan White volley which came seconds after Kennedy was denied a first-minute goal by some good covering defence. But after a shaky start, the Shrimps began to get on top.

Stewart Drummond headed wide from close range and Jon Newby and Craig Stanley – back in the side for the first time since being transfer listed – both forced saves from Chris Stockdale before the Shrimps took the lead on 37 minutes.

Wayne Curtis's turn was too sharp for home skipper Steve Foster who brought him down and Garry Thompson made no mistake from the spot.

The Shrimps scored a second in their next foray forward as Thompson's cross was headed home by the unmarked Newby.

The Quakers immediately responded with Gregg Blundell forcing Davies into another save low to his left.

The expected second half onslaught came but again Morecambe were equal to everything thrown at them with Davies making a wonderful stop to flick Kennedy's close-range header onto the crossbar.

Tommy Wright then headed straight at the Morecambe keeper from close in before the Shrimps had another period on top with Thompson curling a free kick inches wide.

Darlington looked dead and buried but then Kennedy turned in a Neil Austin cross and Ndumbu-Nsungu took full advantage of Morecambe's naivety to give the Quakers a dramatic point to spoil an otherwise excellent afternoon for the Shrimps.

Darlington (0) 2
Kennedy 85, Ndumbu-Nsungu 89

Morecambe (2) 2
Thompson 38 (pen), Newby 41

Coca Cola Football League Two
Monday, March 24
at Darlington Arena

Morecambe


Davies 8

Yates 7

McStay 7

Bentley 7

Burns 7

Thompson 7

Stanley 7

Drummond 7

Curtis 7

Newby 7

Blinkhorn 7

Subs
Artell (for Bentley 22)
Twiss (for Newby 76)
Unused subs: Jalal, Hunter, Baker.

Darlington: Stockdale, White, Foster, Joachim, Blundell (Ndumbu-Nsungu 60), Parker, Wright (Austin 64), Valentine, Foran, Hodge (Purdie 53), Kennedy. Unused subs: Liversedge, Miller. Booked: Foran.

Attendance: 3,719.
Referee: Michael Oliver 7
Wembley ref got most things right

Darlo Mcbe
On target 6 5
Off target3 6
Fouls 16 8
Corner 7 2
Offsides 4 2

Starman:
Scott Davies – The young keeper made some superb saves