Story by Kevin Luff - 17th January 2007

Penney unhappy with refereeing decisions

Darlington picked up a useful point at Bury last night despite having to play the final stages of the game with ten men. Quakers had chances through Julian Joachim in the first half to get their noses in front but went in at the break a goal behind thanks to a penalty for the home side.

Bury's Andy Bishop scored the spot kick which resulted when Darlington defender Evan Horwood was adjudged to have closed down Marc Pugh's cross with his hand. Quakers' manager Dave Penney did not think the incident was a penalty kick. Horwood was later sent off for a challenge on the half way line in the second period.

"I think the abiding thing for me is that Evan is sliding in to try and block the cross with his feet and it has hit somewhere. It might have hit him on the arm but his arms are alongside him," said Penney. "The linesman is not sure either because he points to the corner flag and then thinks I'll make a name for myself by giving a penalty. Evan has been excellent and he has been harshly done by twice tonight with the penalty and sending off."

Darlington themselves were denied a spot kick when Dave Challinor charged down a Neil Wainwright shot. Quakers' misery was compounded when Horwood was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Pugh with seven minutes left. Once against Penney did not agree with the decision made by the official Mr Swarbrick.

"It's a yellow card. It is on the half way line, he is not going to score and it's not a two footed challenge," said the Darlington boss. "Everyone in this ground you ask will say it's a yellow card - even Christ Casper and Martin Scott. I don't know if we can appeal against it but we'll stick together anyway."

Quakers however equalised with a few minutes left when Tommy Wright scored on his debut. Having signed just hours earlier he took advantage when Joachim's clever flick in the box caused panic amongst the Bury defenders. Having missed out on the player when he was at Doncaster Penney was obviously delighted to get his man.

"That is what centre forwards are paid to do - score goals. We lost Barry (Conlon) so he will add a bit of height up front," said Penney. "We needed to add some bodies and we managed to stave off the challenge of Rotherham. I nearly got him when I was at Doncaster. We couldn't agree a fee with Leicester. I think second time he realised I'd been after him for a while so we are delighted to have him and its great he has got a goal on his debut."

Overall Penney felt his side more than deserved their point. "I thought we were the better side. Julian (Joachim) has got through and could have scored early doors. I thought on a poor pitch we tried to play some decent football and I thought we were the better side to be perfectly honest. Without creating a great deal we controlled it," he said.