By Martin Walker

Darlington put up a brave fight against promotion-chasing Fleetwood Town, losing by a dubious first-half goal.

Quakers matched the big-spending Lancastrians with a lionhearted display in front of a bumper 5,638 at the Arena - made up of about 50 travelling fans.

Craig Liddle felt aggrieved at Danny Rose's 43rd-minute winner, citing a blatant off-side missed by one of the assistant referees.

But the Darlo interim boss couldn't fault his troops for effort, application and drive as the home side produced a spirited performance at the end of a trying week.

The brilliant home crowd rallied throughout the game, mustering a heart-warming atmosphere, and probably for the first time this season, a sense of togetherness could be felt around the ground - with football fans from around the country making the trip to the North-East.

Liddle's side didn't create a great deal in terms of goalscoring chances, but they matched their title-chasing opponents in every other department and can feel hard done by in defeat.

The first meaningful attack came with a Darlo set-piece in the 12th-minute after James Gray was fouled five yards in Fleetwood's half. Aaron Brown curled one of his trademark free-kicks into the box and, with visiting keeper Scott Davies flapping, Ryan Bowman just couldn't get a head to it.

Young loanee goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who joined Darlo from Sunderland yesterday, got his first feel of the ball a minute later when Andrew Mangan found space down the left to send in a strong cross, which Pickford did well to hold.

Quakers fans appealed for a penalty in the 18th minute when Bowman seemed to be shoved in the back by Steve McNulty, but referee Richard Clarke was having none of it, and two minutes later Richard Brodie headed just wide from Rose's left-sided cross in the 20th minute.

Fleetwood broke down a promising Darlo attack in the 40th minute when Arnison's right-wing cross was cleared, and the visitors broke, eventually getting the breakthrough in the 43rd-minute. Mangan broke down the left and his shot came off the post before Rose drilled home through a crowd of players.

Darlo rallied straight away and almost scored immediately from the restart. McReady played a cracking throughball for Bowman and his first-time shot was parried away by Davies for a corner.

Pickford was the first keeper to be called into second-half action 10 minutes into the second half when he did well to get a finger-tip to Gareth Seddon's guided shot.

Nathan Pond's header was cleared off the line minutes later and he had another header easily saved by Pickford moments later as the visitors began to impose themselves more, approaching the hour-mark.

Darlington produced a rare attack in the 62nd minute when Bowman managed to elude Pond with a clever dummy before crossing into the danger area, but Adam Rundle couldn't quite connect with his volley.

Quakers tried to rally late on, without threatening Davies in the Fleetwood goal, but they can be pleased with their performance - with every fan on their feet to applaud them off at the end.

The whole feeling of togetherness was appropriately summed up with the announcement of the man-of-the-match, given to Liddle and all his players.

It was the end to an almost perfect day, and renewed optimism can be felt around the Northern Echo Arena tonight.

Matchfacts
Goal: Rose 43
Bookings: K Taylor 74, 79, Harrison 89
Darlington: Pickford, Arnison, Brown, Lee, K Taylor, McReady (Harrison, 69), Bridge-Wilkinson, Hopson, J Gray (Barton, 82), Rundle (Ramshaw, 90), Bowman.
Unused: P Gray, Nixon.
Fleetwood: Davies, Beeley, McNulty, Pond, Brodie, Goodall, Mangan, Seddon (Allen, 59), Cavanagh, Fowler (McGuire, 82), Rose.
Unused: Clancy, Viera, Allen, Stevenson.
Referee: Richard Clarke (Northumberland).
Attendance: 5,638 (including a handful of visitors).