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Match report

Darlington 1 Boston United 0

Scorers:  Jackson own goal (11 mins, 1-0)

Attendance 1345

A first half own goal by Boston full back Ashley Jackson gave Quakers three hard-earned points against the fourth placed club.

Quakers worked hard all the way throughout the game, and defended well when Boston piled the pressure on in the second half.

Man of the match without doubt was Harvey Saunders, who was a constant nuisance throughout the game and created the all important goal.

Quakers gained a free kick for a foul on Ainge on the right on 4 minutes, but Joe Wheatley’s free kick was headed away.

But Boston replied with a long clearance from Willis that was flicked on by Hine for Allott to get in behind, but Maddison stopped his pull back.

Boston had a chance when another long ball found Hine, and his low shot was comfortably saved by Maddison.

Quakers got another free kick on 10 minutes that was curled in left footed by Galbraith, and Hughes headed just over the top.

Quakers took the lead on 11 minutes when Saunders got away down the left past two defenders and crossed low into the middle where Ainge at full stretch made a good connection, and the ball came back off the post, hit full back Ashley Jackson and went into the net.

There was a flare up on 18 minutes when Nicholson was caught by a late challenge from Middleton, and after the ref pulled the Boston player aside, he was shown a red card.

Quakers went looking for a second, and a deep cross by left back Henshall from left, that was aimed for Ainge at the far post, was held by Willis.

And there was a half chance on 28 minutes when Wheatley whipped a corner in from the left, with Ainge and Hughes just unable to get on the end of it.

Keeper Jonny Maddison had to receive treatment after he fell awkwardly under a challenge from Smith, but was able to resume.

Quakers had a chance on 38 minutes. Wheatley found Nicholson with a great crossfield pass in the box, but Nicholson’s ball intended for Saunders went behind him.

There was a difficult chance on 40 minutes when Wheatley crossed into the box for Saunders, with his back to goal and the keeper advancing, to head backwards over the bar.

Maddison pulled off a good save on 43 minutes when Davies crossed from the right for Hine to flick a header towards goal, but the keeper blocked well.

Maddison went down injured again just on half time when he palmed a left wing free kick out for a corner, but he resumed again

Half time: Darlington 1 Boston United 0

Quakers had the first chance of the second half, a long range shot by Elliott that he scuffed wide.

But Boston nearly scored on 49 minutes when a free kick came in from the right, and Gavin Allott headed wide from six yards.

Saunders then chased a long ball downfield pursued by a defender, and headed into the keeper’s hands.

Quakers nearly got a second on 53 minutes. A patient build up saw Thompson cross from the right for Ainge to head down at the far post, and the ball went just past the opposite upright.

Quakers made a change on 53 minutes, Johnny Burn coming on for Henshall.

Saunders created another chance through his own persistence on 55 minutes. Thompson threaded the ball into the box for him, and his effort was charged down at point blank range by the keeper.

But Boston had a chance when the ball came into the Darlo box from the right and sub Johnson mishit his shot wide.

The game got pretty scrappy after that, with several fouls and stoppages.

Boston were reduced to nine men when Saunders got away up the left and was taken out by Willis, who was shown a red card – the second successive week that Quakers opponents have had two red cards.

Thompson nearly got a second , a long range shot that sub keeper Seb Malkowski pushed over the bar.

Darlington: Maddison, Trotman, Hughes, Galbraith, Elliott; Henshall (sub Burn 53), Wheatley, Nicholson, Thompson (sub Banks 90+3), Ainge, Saunders (sub Syers 90)

Booking: Galbraith, Thompson

Boston United

Willis, Davies, Jackson, Thanoj , Middleton, Qualter, Hine (sub Wright 83), Abbott, Allott, Smith (sub Johnson 62, sub Malkowski 86), Walker

Subs:  Wright, Malkowski, Norris, Slew, Johnson

Booking: Thanoj, Qualter

Sending off: Middleton, Willis

Referee: Paul Brown