Heartache for Robins in 11th hour

Report by David Robinson

A last minute winner saw high flying Darlington get the better of an entertaining encounter at Hurst Cross. The game started in a cagey fashion with lots of attempted passes by both sides being cut out by the opposition, the Quakers were first onto the attack as Gaskell’s flick into the area was blocked as he attempted to find strike partner Cartman.

Just past the quarter hour a long ball by Cavell Coo was brought down perfectly by Dale Johnson but the ball ran just close enough to Jameson for him to be able to grab it and Johnson went close again as he tricked his way past Scott into the area but shot straight at the keeper. In between times he found time to set up Pilkington with a perfectly weighted through ball which his strike partner lifted just too high. Ashton finally got the goal their play deserved as Alex Frost’s long pass found Martin Pilkington outstripping a defender and rounding Jameson to open the scoring. The visitors almost drew level as Cartman saw his shot blocked inside the area, the rebound falling to Thompson whose shot was cleared off the line by Frost.

Chris Sutherland was on the move for Ashton following the interval and easily beat Galeraith before seeing Johnson denied at the near post. Darlington did indeed find the equaliser with 8 minutes of the half elapsed as Thompson’s left wing cross was headed home neatly by Cartman and a throw in then saw Thompson slice an effort well wide as the visitors upped the pace. Pilkington’s square pass then gave Sutherland a clear sight of goal but Galeraith was across to block and Jeff King then played a fine through ball to Johnson who put his effort just past the angle.

A great move by the Robins then saw Johnson and Pilkington combine to set up Adam Morning whose shot unfortunately landed on Lees Road, and Mitchell then brought a decent save out of Phillips from a 20 yard free kick. The final word fell to the visitors as a corner reached the far post and was then forced over the line by substitute Armstrong despite the best efforts of Coo on the goal line.

Team: Phillips, Coo, Mason, Frost, Haining, King, Sutherland (Chadwick), Gee, Pilkington (Banim), Johnson, Morning. SNU: Samberg, Halford.