8th January 1985 - Darlington 2 Boro 1

[erimus74]

One of our darkest periods in our history for me

I still look back with fondness at the club at those days, what we come through & where we ended up not long after

This season (1984/85) Boro were going from one crisis to the next, we only had 6 wins leading up to this match & facing another long battle against relegation to the 3rd division

The start of the year didn't start off well, losing at home to Oxford 1-0 on NYD then drawing 0-0 at home to Darlington on the 5th in the FAC 3rd round, thought we were lucky to come away & still be in the cup, if we were lucky to escape the 1st match we certainly weren't in the replay, as Boro old boys had their day of glory

2 former Boro players scoring against the mighty Boro & here we go again, facing a mountain to drag ourselves back in to this cup tie

Crowd trouble erupted throughout the game, fans running on the pitch
I really felt for the late, great Willie Maddren that night in the dug out, he didn't sign up for this, he was taking one step forward & two steps backwards

The ref took both teams off the pitch, a section of the Boro fans were hopefully thinking the game would be abandoned but the ref told both managers, that no matter what time it will be, tonight's match will finish
With the police getting the crowds under control & back in the stands both teams resumed the match.
Tony McAndrew dragged a goal back, his final Boro FAC goal, at last a Boro Cup goal & away goal for that matter, but as Boro huffed & puffed it was a case of too little too late & we were out of the cup & the Boro gloom continues

Willie Maddren picked the following team.
Kelham O'Hanlon
Irving Nattrass
Gary Hamilton
Mick Buckley
Mick Saxby
Paul Ward - Future Darlington temp manager & the youngest
Tony Mowbray
David Mills
Heine Otto
Dave Currie
Tony McAndrew