DARLINGTON'S first victory of the Mark Cooper era arrived at a cost last night when it emerged two of his key signings are facing spells on the sidelines.
With a little more than two weeks remaining until the Quakers are due to start their Blue Square Bet Premier campaign, striker Liam Hatch had to be rushed to hospital during the 3-0 win at Workington nursing a dislocated elbow.
As the rest of the squad travelled back to their Cumbrian training base last night Cooper learned that Hatch should be fit for the start of the new season, knowing he already faces an anxious wait to learn the extent of a knee problem sustained by Michael Brough.
Brough, Cooper's first signing when he moved from Altrincham earlier this month, will remain in the North-East until the swelling on his knee goes down and the results of a scan will be revealed on Monday.
We will see the results of the scan because we need to see if he needs an operation or not, said Cooper. There's something there and we have to wait.
We are depleted, whatever our plans are they are being torn up because of injuries.
We are relieved to learn that Liam has only suffered ligament damage to his elbow after popping out of place and hopefully he will be out for no longer than two weeks.
Hatch's injury, sustained five minutes before half-time after an innocuous trip from Kyle May, arrived after he had netted his first goal in his second spell with the club, which was Darlington's third of the night.
But it was also a night for trialist Kevin Austin to shine.
The 37-year-old lined up at left-back and will figure against Kendal on Thursday, with a deal expected to be concluded for the ex-Chesterfield man early next week.
The left-back was outstanding.
We will spend the next couple of days with him in the Lakes and hopefully by the end of the week we will get to do something, said Cooper. He has an offer from Barrow. He has been there for a couple of weeks and he wants to look at us now.
It took just four minutes for Darlington to find the breakthrough.
When Workington winger Stevie Hindmarch handled just inside the area, Paul Arnison was given the chance to convert his second penalty in eight days.
The 32-year-old, who also found the net against Sheffield Wednesday, struck his spot-kick hard and to the right of goalkeeper Araan Taylor inside four minutes.
And when Gary Smith's sweet strike nestled inside Taylor's bottom left corner, after Tommy Wright had hit the upright from 25 yards, it was clear Darlington were set for a different night to that which they encountered against Carlisle on Friday.
Eight minutes later Hatch added a stylish third. Smith's clever pass to the back post, after John McReady lay-off, was slotted beyond Taylor and into his far corner.
But, after a few tasty challenges led to protests from the Darlington touchline, Hatch's decent start ended in the worst possible manner. He fell awkward after clashing ankles with May.
Chances after that were few and far between. Defensively, with Arnison and Austin strong out wide, Darlington had plenty to be encouraged by, with Sam Russell never seriously tested.
DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Russell; Arnison, Hone, Miller, Austin (Hopson 69); McReady (P Gray 69), G Smith (Moore 62), Chandler (Barnes 65), Werling (J Gray 46); Hatch (M Smith 40), T Wright (Main 62).
Sub (not used): Jack.
Source: Northern Echo
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