AFC Fylde 1 Darlington 2

Attendance 963

Scorer: Lawlor 44 mins, 0-1, Haughton 47 mins, 1-1, DosSantos 68 mins, 1-2

A stunning goal by Kevin Dos Santos gave Quakers the points at Mill Farm --and a perfect birthday present for manager Alun Armstrong.

The manager freshened up the team by making six changes to the team that drew at Gloucester, and by doing so injected energy into the team, which fought tooth and nail to hang on to the points after KDS scored one of the goals of the season.

Every player threw their bodies on the line and gave more than 100 per cent throughout the game to record the best win of the season -- and the second over Fylde.

It was also Quakers' first ever win at Fylde on a night to remember for a long, long time.

Buy your ticket for Saturday's home game against Chorley here:

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Quakers almost got through the Fylde defence when Joe Wheatley found KDS on the left, but his run into the area was stopped.

At the other end Alex Storey made a couple of good interceptions to stop Fylde attacks.

Quakers won a corner on 7 minutes when Jarrett Rivers nearly got through on a Kallum Griffiths pass but a defender just got the ball away.

Fylde got their first corner on 15 minutes, but Quakers comfortably dealt with it.

Quakers had a good build up on the right which ended with Griffiths, who had sneaked into the penalty area, misplacing a Wheatley pass to Junior Mondal.

Fylde had their first chance on 18 minutes when Jorome Slew made a good run but under pressure fired straight at Tommy Taylor.

Wheatley made a good interception outside the Fylde box on 21 minutes and rolled the ball to Kevin Dos Santos, who fired first time over the top.

At this point, Quakers were working hard and stifling Fylde.

Quakers had a penalty shout turned down when Wheatley played 1-2 with O’Neill and then collided with a defender, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers had a half chance when Tyrone O’Neill was challenged in the area and the ball dropped for Rivers to hit first time over the top.

Fylde went close on 41 minutes. Nick Haughton chested down a crossfield pass, ran to the edge of the box and struck a low shot that went a yard wide.

Quakers had a louder penalty appeal on 42 minutes when Griffiths put a free kick into the area and Jake Lawlor seemed to be pushed to the ground, but the referee waved play on.

O’Neill then found Griffiths on the right, and his dangerous cross was turned away for a corner.

Quakers took the lead from the corner. Rivers put the ball over to the far post, and Lawlor rose unchallenged to head the ball in – his first goal for the club!

It capped an excellent first half for Quakers

HT 0-1

Fylde levelled two minutes after half time. Wheatley was penalised for a foul outside the box, and Nick Haughton curled the ball into the left side of the net.

Tommy Taylor and Alex Storey then needed treatment after they collided while defending a free kick.

Fylde broke away on 55minutes, but Lawlor just managed to get his foot to the ball as it came in from the left.

Fylde won a free kick on 59 minutes which Haughton curled into the box and Obi headed over.

Haughton again figured when he tried to catch Taylor unawares with a low shot from out on the left, but the keeper saved.

But Quakers regained the lead with an absolute screamer from Dos Santos. He controlled a pass from Hatfield, ran at the Fylde defence, and from the edge of the box hit a thunderbolt into the top left corner of the net!

Griffiths then pulled off a great tackle to stop Haughton from progressing down the left.

Haughton was always dangerous, and he made one mazy run which ended him firing straight at Taylor.

Quakers were pushed back, but there was some great defending to stop Fylde putting the ball into the box.

But Quakers nearly got a third. Sub Danny Rose picked up a loose clearance, dribbled into the box, but fired wide.

There was some great defending late in the game. Taylor pulled off a great low save from Robinson, and Hedley diverted a dangerous cross away by Haughton.

Final score

AFC Fylde 1 Darlington 2

Darlington: Taylor, Griffiths, Storey, Lawlor, Hedley, Wheatley (sub Hatfield 64), Purver (captain), Rivers, Dos Santos (sub Rose 78), O'Neill (sub Cassidy 83), Mondal

Subs: Lambert, Ellis

Booking: Wheatley, Lawlor

AFC Fylde: Neal, Pike, Davis, Obi, Evans, Joyce, Philliskirk, Tollitt (sub Robinson 78), Shaw (sub Cullen 66), Haughton, Slew.

Subs: Stott, Conlan, Perkins.

Booking: Joyce