Darlo slay the Dragon
12 August 2007
Attendance: 4408
Darlington 2 Wrexham 0
Darlington started in great style with a victory over Wrexham. The home side kept the clean sheet that had been predicted by manager Dave Penney before the season began.
Wrexham, although disappointed by being a goal down at half time must have thought that their boat had come in when, early in the second half Darlington keeper Andy Oakes was sent off. However, another goal for the home side secured the points on a sunny aternoon.
Chances were limited in a quiet first-half as both sides began the new season at a slow pace, but it was the visitors who came closest to opening the scoring when former Hartlepool striker Eifion Williams tested Oakes from only eight-yards out. But then at the other end of the pitch home striker Tommy Wright fired goalwards on the half-hour only to see his effort deflected wide of the target. And Darlington finished the first period on a high and Julian Joachim firing from the edge of the area a shot which took a good header from Danny Williams to clear. As the half drew to a close, home striker Kevin McBride, signed from Motherwell in the close season, headed in the game's opening goal when connecting with a cross from Pawel Abbott.
As the second period opened Wrexham came close to an equaliser when former Sunderland striker Michael Proctor headed narrowly over.
Abbott fired in an excellent finish into the top corner in the 55th minute but the referee ruled the goal out after a narrow offside decision.
The visitors still felt they could get back into the game when Oakes brought down Proctor and was red-carded in the 63rd minute but Joachim eased the home side's nerves when he latched on to a flick from Wright and fired into the top corner of the net in the 72nd minute.
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