When we left dear old Feethams back in 2003, we produced a programme which included reports of significant matches through the years.

Today, we look back at Maurice Wellock's five goal feat against Rotherham in 1930.

Darlington 8 Rotherham United 1
Third Division North - 15th February 1930
The twenties and the thirties were noted for the abundant number of goals.

it was fairly commonplace for teams to score a century of goals in 42 league games, and it was Darlington's turn in the Third Division North season of 1929-30.

Quakers had just been relegated after a two year stay in the Second Division, and they were battling hard to regain that place.

They scored 108 goals that season, starting with a 5-2 win at Hartlepool, on the opening day, and then six apiece at home to Nelson and Doncaster Rovers in the next two home games.

On New Year's Day, South Shields were hammered 8-1 at Feethams, but then on February 15th Rotherham came to town.

Rotherham were among the teams at the wrong end of the table that season, and earlier in the season centre forward Maurice Wellock scored four against them at Millmoor.

And he clearly relished renewing his acquaintances with them, because this time he scored five as Quakers charged to an 8-1 win.

The Echo managed to keep its restraint as it waxed lyrical about the performance.

“That Darlington won by such a handsome margin was not so much due to the complete subjection of the opposition as to the excellent finishing of the home forwards, who never neglected an opportunity to have a shot. Invariably their efforts were well directed.

“This was particularly true of Wellock. He seized every chance and at the finish had five goals to his credit, which ranks as one of the best individual performances ever accomplished by a Darlington player. Not only was Wellock successful as a scorer, but he also led his line nicely and found time to make openings for others.

“The forwards were well served by the half backs and none gave better service than Waugh, a great worker and an accurate feeder. Dickson was the best back on the field.”

Two of Wellock's goals were penalties, both of them for handball against the same player. He opened the scoring after five minutes, and by half time had completed a hat trick.
Wellock was the hero of that season.  He scored four on his debut at Hartlepool to become an instant hit with the Darlington fans, and he went on to score 34 goals in 37 league games. not a bad return at all - and another two in the FA Cup defeat at Caernarvon Athletic. Unfortunately, his goals weren't enough to shoot Quakers to promotion.
Despite scoring all those goals, they finished third, 17 points behind champions Port Vale, who scored 103. Quakers scored 71 goals at, but home that season, but they conceded44 away from Feethams, a defensive record which maybe cost them a higher place in the league.

 The 8-1 scoreline isn't Quakers' record score. That was the 9-2 against Lincoln on January 7th 1928,
four against them at Millmoor. And Wellock isn't the only Darlo player to score five in a game - Tom
Ruddy did the same in 1927.