AFC Telford United 1 Darlington 4

Lambert (0-1 1 min, 0-2 45 mins, 1-4 80 mins)) Daniels (1-2 50 mins), Purver (60 mins, 1-3,_ 

A great hat trick by Jack Lambert, his second for the club, gave Quakers  victory at the New Buck's Head, their first win in five matches.

It was a much-deserved win for Quakers, who caused the Telford defence all sorts of problems whenever they went forward. As well as Lambert's hat trick, Alex Purver scored one of the goals of the season, Mark Beck hit the inside of both posts, and Jacob Hazel found Telford keeper Louis Grey unbeatable on a personal level.

The result puts Quakers up to third, two points behind joint leaders Kings Lynn and Brackley.

Here's Alun's post match interview:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/alun-we-could-have-scored-more-1

And the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-tuesday-night-available-now

Quakers had to make a late change, with Jake Lawlor pulling out in the warm up and being replaced by Kaine Felix, so Dan Dodds moved across to centre half and Joe Leesley went to left back.

Quakers scored with their first attack.  Jacob Hazel found Jack Lambert on the left, he cut inside to the edge of the area, and scored with a low right foot shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Telford tried to reply with a free kick by Nathan Blissett 25 yards out, but it was blocked by the wall, then Devarn Green made a good run from the halfway line to the edge of the box, but he dragged his shot wide of the right hand post.

It was nearly 2-0 when Lambert put Hazel through 1 on 1 in the inside left position, and Louis Grey just managed to parry his low shot and quickly grab the loose ball. Hazel and Grey would have their own personal duel throughout the game.

And there was another chance with a free kick from 25 yards that Lambert drove just wide of the right hand post.

Telford had a half chance from a right wing corner that Jordan Piggott put over the bar from six yards.

Quakers replied with a 30 yarder by Hazel from a Felix pass that flew just wide of the left hand post.

However they had keeper Tommy Taylor to thank for a great save on 32 minutes. Blissett made a powerful run forward and struck a right foot shot that was heading towards the bottom left corner, until the keeper went full stretch and pushed it away.

Quakers went up the other end and nearly scored. Hazel broke through and had a shot charged down by Grey, who recovered and blocked the follow up.

Hazel was unlucky with another chance when Leesley crossed to the far post where Beck nodded the ball down for Hazel to have a shot from six yards blocked by a defender.

But the breakthrough came in stoppage time. Again Hazel was denied by the keeper, but Telford could clear the ball only as far as Lambert, who weaved his way past three defenders and slotted the ball in for his second of the game.

And it was nearly 3-0 on half time when Felix crossed from the right, and Beck’s flick hit the inside of both posts before bouncing to safety.

Half time:

Telford 0 Darlington 2

Quakers had a chance right at the start of the second half, Hazel set up Purver whose right foot shot went narrowly over the top from 20 yards

But Telford pulled a goal back on 50 minutes when sub Jason Oswell laid a right wing cross off for fellow sub Brendon Daniels to squeeze past Taylor in the bottom left corner.

Quakers replied when Moke cleverly found Beck on the edge of the area and he turned and set up Hazel, whose right foot shot was saved.

But it was deservedly 3-1 on 60 minutes when Quakers caused chaos in the Telford box with some close play, and the ball was played back by Moke 20 yards out to Purver, who beat Grey with a measured right foot shot into the top corner for his first goal of the season.

Quakers kept going and nearly got a fourth when Moke found Hazel at a tight angle, but his left foot shot went wide of the left hand post.

Then Purver once again snapped up a loose clearance and hit a right foot shot just wide.

Again Telford tried to hit back, and Evans nodded a left wing corner against the post.

But Quakers finished the game on 80 minutes, when Moke won possession and played the ball forward to Lambert who beat Grey with a left foot shot into the bottom right corner.

It was nearly 5 when Felix got down the right and pulled the ball back for Hazel, whose right foot shot on the turn was once again saved by Grey.

From the corner that followed, the ball came out to Moke who fired over the top.

Taylor, Dodds, Leesley Sukar, Hedley, Moke, Purver, Lambert, Felix (sub Liddle 90) Hazel (sub Barbosa 90+3), Beck (sub Rivers 85)

Subs: Rose

Telford: Grey, Piggott,Craig, Evans, Flowers (sub Burroughs 58), Nolan, Bood (sub Oswell 46), Ekpolo, Blissitt (sub Daniels 46), Faal, Green

Subs: Allen, Chang