Whitey scores twice in first away win

By Ray Simpson

Whitey scores twice in first away win

Colwyn Bay 2 Darlington 4.Makeshift striker Alan White scored twice as Quakers won their first away...

Colwyn Bay 2 Darlington 4.

Makeshift striker Alan White scored twice as Quakers won their first away game of the season in North Wales.

White started the game up front, because manager Martin Gray decided to rest Graeme Armstrong with Monday’s derby against Blyth in mind, and White scored twice in the first half, but couldn’t grab his hat trick.

Quakers nearly took an early lead, when Kevin Burgess hit the bar with a header from Stephen Thompson’s corner, and then Nathan Cartman was off target from the edge of the box following a lay off from Alan White.

The defender turned striker, who played up front instead of the rested David Dowson, also nearly scored with a looping header from Thompson’s cross.

Quakers’ early pressure paid off on 22 minutes when Stephen Thompson crossed from the right and Burgess forced the ball home.

Another chance came Quakers’ way when Cartman helped the ball on for Thompson, who fired the ball straight at the keeper, Chris Sanna.

Quakers deservedly went 2-0 on 33 minutes before half time when Tom Portas won the ball in midfield, beat a couple of men in a good run into the Colwyn box, and crossed for White to head in at the far post.

[caption id="attachment_13289" align="alignnone" width="300"]Alan White Alan White[/caption]

It was 3-0 just on the half time whistle when Cartman created the space for Ian Watson to cross for White to head home again.

Colwyn made three substitutions at half time, and one of them, Valter Fernandez, pulled a goal back on 55 minutes with a cross that dropped over Peter Jameson and into the net.

They caused one or two anxious moments after that, but it was another sub, Darlington’s David Dowson, who made the game safe with a low shot after he cut in from the left.

Chris Sharp pulled a late goal back for Colwyn from a rebound off Jameson.

Jameson, Gibbons, Burgess, Hunter, Watson, Thompson (sub Youhill), Portas, Turnbull, Bell (sub Scott), Cartman (sub Dowson), White.