Hatch cleared of neck break scare

Darlington striker Liam Hatch is recovering after X-rays showed he had not broken his neck in Tuesday's 1-0 FA Cup replay defeat by Droylsden.

Hatch, 26, was taken to hospital during the match, which was held up for 35 minutes, but was released to travel home and will be assessed on Wednesday.

"He felt a crack in his neck, we wonder whether that's a whiplash thing," manager Dave Penney told BBC Tees.

"We might have to bring someone else in up top."

Kent-born Hatch has scored five goals in 13 appearances this season since Penney signed him on loan from League One side Peterborough United in August.

Meanwhile, there was more woe for the Quakers in the shape of their FA Cup exit at the first-round stage by the Blue Square North side and the end of their 11-match unbeaten run.

And the former Doncaster Rovers manager admitted his disappointment at seeing that record passed up in such circumstances.

"We shouldn't have lost the unbeaten run to these [Droylsden], we went to Wycombe, Bradford and Lincoln, the last with 10 men, 11 unbeaten," he said.

"You don't come to these places as a good team and lose your unbeaten record.

"Perhaps we have been raising ourselves for the big tough league games and weren't mentally ready for this match."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Darlington fans' views on 606
BBC Tees sport
Darlington weather
BBC Sport League Two
Darlington
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites