Football: Paw power

Sunday Mirror, Aug 19, 2007 by STUART KING

PAWEL ABBOTT netted his first goals for Darlington to help his side to a comfortable victory.

Abbott, a pounds 100,000 signing from Swansea, netted with a smart left-foot finish early in the second half and a late penalty as the Quakers made it two League wins out of two.

Tommy Wright had opened the scoring as Accrington, surprise winners at Wycombe last weekend, were restricted to long-range efforts throughout and were unable to find a way past a well- marshalled Darlington defence.

Stanley made one change from the side beaten by Leicester in the Carling Cup, with Graham Branch replaced by Leam Richardson, while Tim Ryan replaced John Brackstone from the Darlington side beaten at Barnsley.

It was Abbott who had the first chance of the afternoon, but his header from Kevin McBride's free-kick went just wide.

Chris Palmer then fired over from distance for the visitors, before Lee McEvilly's long-range free-kick was saved by David Stockdale in the Quakers goal.

And it was the visitors who went in front after 26 minutes, when Rob Purdie delivered a cross from the right-hand side and Wright made no mistake with his close-range header.

Abbott was then denied by Kenny Arthur from distance before Rommy Boco saw a 20-yard effort flash wide of the left-hand post as Stanley searched for an equaliser.

The lively Abbott was denied again by Arthur, before McEvilly had two more efforts - one blocked by Stephen Foster and the other going wide from the edge of the box.

Palmer had the first effort of the second half, with his free- kick blocked, but he turned provider just two minutes later when his cross from the left found Abbott and he sent a shot past Arthur from 12 yards.

Abbott then had a 25-yard effort saved by Arthur before Andrew Proctor tried his luck from distance at the other end, but he was off target.

The Quakers were restricting their hosts to long-range efforts and 30-yard shots from James Harris and Shaun Whalley caused Stockdale little problem. Harris tried his luck again, but Ryan was able to block his shot before a Cavanagh cross was met by Proctor but Stockdale - who kept his place despite the return of Andy Oakes from suspension - was able to save.

The Quakers brought on defender Ian Miller for midfielder McBride, but it was the home side still in the ascendancy as Boco had another long-range effort, but again Stockdale was equal to it. Miller came within inches of making it three when his 30-yard free- kick rattled the crossbar, while Peter Cavanagh spurned Accrington's best chance of the afternoon when he missed the target from six yards out.

Harris had too more late efforts from distance, but they were both off target, summing up a disappointing afternoon for the hosts.

And salt was rubbed in their wounds in the last minute when Rob Williams brought down Gregg Blundell in the box and Abbott stepped up to complete the win.