Darlington 2 Cambridge United 0

Darlington brushed aside off-the-field turmoil to record an impressive and thoroughly deserved 2-0 victory at home to Cambridge United today.

A goal in each half, scored by wingers Adam Rundle and Adam Reach, secured three points against a team who came into the match fifth in the table.

They had lost only one of their previous 14 matches, but they suffered a defeat at The Northern Echo Arena that takes Quakers up to 11th and six points off the play-offs. Caretaker manager Craig Liddle made three changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Grimsby Town last weekend, with Paul Arnison, Jamie Chandler and Liam Hatch all returning.

Darlington began promisingly with much of their best approach work coming down the right flank where Arnison, Rundle and Dale Hopson all combined well.

One such attack led to Rundle cutting inside and unleashing and a rising drive that Cambridge keeper Danny Naisbitt did well to push over.

Another foray up the right saw Reach being fed the ball on the penalty spot where his turn and shot was deflected wide and from the resulting corner Hatch’s back-post header was off target.

Naisbitt had to be alert when racing off his line to collect Rundle’s ball over the top that carried just too much power for Arnison who enjoyed a superb first half.

The right-back’s over-lapping runs added much to Quakers’ attack during an opening 45 minutes during which the visitors, who defeated Darlington 2-0 in September, rarely threatened.

But a rare meaningful attack, a ball across goal from right-winger Ashley Carew was close to being turned in as both defenders an attackers stretched to reach it.

Soon afterwards the goal that Darlington had been threatening arrived on 37 minutes, with Rundle on the scoresheet thanks to a long-distance strike.

He was involved in the build-up too, collected Hatch’s lay-off before spraying it wide to Arnison who returned the pass before floating the ball over the keeper from 25 yards to record his second goal for the club.

It was the first of two major contributions from the winger who, before half-time, delivered a cross that Hatch headed into the arms of Naisbitt, but that proved to be the final goalmouth action for sometime as the second period began drably.

Neither side were able to penetrate the other for a period in which defences were on top, though Cambridge did force Darlington’s defence on to the backfoot, but keeper Sam Russell was well-protected.

However, he was beaten on 64 minutes when left-winger Harrison Dunk struck a post, but the effort rebounded off an upright and it was not long before it was 2-0 and again Rundle was involved.

He dinked in a ball over the top of the Cambridge defence that Reach anticipated to get his head on the end of to beat Naisbitt from which point there was only one winner.

Rundle received a standing ovation when he left the field when he was replaced by James Gray with five minutes to play during which time Russell made a fine save from Liam Hughes to ensure Quakers kept another clean sheet.

That’s five in their last seven matches while the team are now only six points off the play-offs, all of which suggest what a crying shame it would be if chairman Raj Singh allows the off-the-field problems to ruin what could yet become fruitful season.