Vanarama National League North

Darlington 5
York City 1
FT HT 2–0
  • Nelson
  • Saunders
  • Nelson
  • Nicholson
  • Hughes

Blackwell Meadows

Attendance: 2,286

Match report

Darlington 5 York City 1

Nelson (30 mins, 1-0), Saunders (38 mins, 2-0) Nelson (51 mins, 3-0), Nicholson (61 mins, 4-0), Wright (64 mins, 4-1) Hughes (81 mins 5-1)

Attendance 2,286

Quakers put on a super show as they thumped neighbours York City at Blackwell Meadows.

Andrew Nelson scored with two superb spot kicks, with Harvey Saunders, Jordan Nicholson and Liam Hughes -- on his return to the defence -- also on target as Quakers ran York ragged and sent the Darlington fans home very happy with the first win in ten matches. Nelson has now scored four times in three matches since he moved to Quakers on loan from Sunderland.

As well as the goalscorers, there was an excellent performance in midfield by Romal Palmer, as Quakers ended a run of nine league and cup games without a win.

York had a free kick in the second minute on the right. The ball was floated in by Josh Law for Joe Tait to have a header easily saved by Jonny Maddison.

Quakers had the first attempt at goal on 9 minutes when Jordan Nicholson picked the ball up in midfield, ran forward, and struck a low left foot shot that Adam Bartlett saved one handed low down to his left.

York were awarded a free kick on the left corner of the Darlington box that Josh Law curled around the wall and struck the outside of the post.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 15 minutes. Saunders got on the end of a through ball from Elliott, but Bartlett saved, then recovered to block the follow up from Nicholson, then Nelson dragged his shot from the next rebound wide.

Alex Bray then struck the Darlington post when the ball came in from the right.

Quakers had a chance on 24 minutes when Palmer floated in a free kick from 30 yards out for Hughes to head wide.

Nelson then showed some great skill on 28 minutes when he controlled a pass from Palmer on the left, stepped inside a defender, and struck a low that Bartlett saved on his line.

Quakers got a penalty on 30 minutes when Nelson cleverly beat Dyer again in the left, went down and the ref pointed to the spot. Nelson then confidently struck the spot kick into the top left corner!

Quakers went 2-0 up on 38 minutes. Palmer got to the bye line down the right and pulled the ball back for Nicholson, whose powerful left foot shot was blocked by Bartlett, but Saunders was alert and shot home the rebound, his 7th of the season.

Just on half time, York were reduced to ten men when Bray was shown his second yellow, for another foul on Trotman.

Quakers were then awarded a penalty on 51 minutes when Saunders was tripped by Joe Tait as he tried to keep the ball in, and the ref pointed to the spot, from where Nelson sent the keeper the wrong way.

Quakers then amazingly made it 4-0 on 61 minutes, when Saunders put the ball through for Nicholson to neatly lob over the advancing Bartlett with his right foot.

But York pulled one back on 64 minutes when Jake Wright, who had only been on the field for a few minutes, ran through and beat Maddison with a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Quakers slowed the game down, but they still got a fifth on 81 minutes when a corner came in from the right from Terry Galbraith, and Liam Hughes headed into the top left corner, his first goal for the club!

Team: Maddison, Trotman, Smith, Hughes, Galbraith, O'Hanlon, Elliott, Palmer, Nicholson, Nelson (sub Wollerton 78), Saunders (sub Thompson 86).

Subs:  Hall, Henshall, Burn

Booking: Nicholson, Palmer, Galbraith

Bartlett, Dyer, Ferguson (sub Newton 76), Parslow, Tait, Bray, Moke, Law, Burrow, Ironside (sub Agnew 46), York (sub Wright 62)

Subs:  Digie, Newton,  Parkin

Booking: Bray

Sending off: Bray