AFC Fylde 2 Darlington 2

Goals: Lennon 48 mins, 0-1, O'Kane 50 mins 1-1, Jolley 60 mins, 2-1, Rutledge 90+2 mis 2-2

A goal by Aidan Rutledge deep into stoppage time deservedly earned Quakers a draw at Mill Farm.

Charlie Lennon scored a great goal to give Quakers the lead, but the home side hit back to score twice in ten minutes and seemingly take control.

However, Fylde failed to kill the game off as Quakers battled away, and Rutledge scored his first goal of the season to take the tie back to Blackwell Meadows on Tuesday night.

Here are the goals: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89aqM8MRn8

and here are Steve's thoughts on the game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4h9CfMk0wA

Quakers had the first chance of the game on 4 minutes when Josh Scott won the ball in midfield and set up Jack Maskell, whose first time shot from 25 yards was saved by Zac Jones.

Fylde responded with a shot over the top by Ryan Colclough, , and then Darlington keeper Pete Jameson pushed Luca Thomas’s left foot shot around the post.

However, Quakers had a good chance when Scott crossed for Maskell six yards out, but he couldn’t quite control the ball.

Another good move from Darlo saw Lennon break through the middle and find Maskell on the right, but his cross was just too far for Main at the far post.

And then a good four man move nearly saw Scott put Maskell in, but Jones just managed to get to the ball first.

Quakers nearly scored on 27 minutes. Cedric Main picked the ball up on the left, beat a couple of defenders, and Jones just managed to push his low shot around the post.

They went close from the corner. McGowan floated the ball over for Maskell to volley just over the top.

Quakers had another chance on 32 minutes, again Lennon found space on the right, and the ball dropped for Scott to fire over.

Tye Barton went close on 35 minutes, when Lennon’s cross was headed down by Main for him to have a powerful effort touched over by Jones.

Fylde nearly made Quakers pay, when Thomas had a shot blocked when he should have passed to a team mate in a better position ten yards out.

Quakers had enjoyed the better chances in the first half, but didn't put them away.

Half time 0-0

Quakers deservedly took the lead after 48 minutes with a great goal. They broke out in force after they defended Fylde’s corner, with Maskell finding Lennon on the left. Lennon beat a couple of defenders, got to the edge of the area, and curled a delightful right foot into the bottom corner for a spectacular goal.

But two minutes later, Fylde were level, when O’Kane ran on to a through ball in the area and beat Jameson.

Scott had to make a couple of clearances on his own six yard line as Fylde ramped up the pressure, and the home side went 2-1 up when they broke into the box on the right, and Jolley fired under Jameson.

However, Quakers nearly levelled when Will McGowan found Main breaking clear, but a defender just managed to get a foot to the ball and deny him.

Quakers made their second sub on 68 minutes,, Aidan Rutledge coming on for Main, and they nearly scored straight after when Lennon got through, but this time Jones saved well.

Quakers had a penalty shout when McGowan’s corner was partly headed away by the Fylde defence and Hatfield went for the ball and appeared to be barged in the back, but the referee waved play on.

Fylde nearly added more, but Jameson pulled off close range saves from Jolley and Mayor

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty on 82 minutes when Lennon cut the ball back, and a defender, who was on the ground, seemed to touch the ball with his hand, but the referee allowed play to continue and Maskell had an effort well pushed over.

Quakers put all their subs on the field, but Fylde kept possession well .

But in the second minute of stoppage time, Darlo levelled. Barrow threw the ball in long from the left, the Fylde defence didn’t clear, and Rutledge scored from the loose ball a few yards out to send the Darlington travelling contingent wild.

Final: Fylde 2 Darlington 2

Team: Jameson, Barton (sub Griffiths 62), Lees, Barrow, Scott (sub Hedley 85), Hatfield (sub Stanton 79), Platt (sub Forbes 79), McGowan, Lennon, Maskell, Main (sub Rutledge 70)

Subs: McGrath