Alfreton 2 Darlington 2

Hazel 4 mins, 0-1, Felix 17 mins, 0-2, Rhead 45 mins, 1-2, Ceesay 72 mins 2-2

Attendance 633

Darlington settled for a point at North Street after being 2-0 up at one stage.

They led with goals by Jacob Hazel and Kaine Felix, but Alfreton launched an aerial bombardment to pull level, with the giant Matt Rhead a key figure for them. Quakers could have won it, if the referee had awarded a last minute penalty for a foul on David Wheater,

Here's Alun's reaction to the draw:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-to-alfreton-draw

and here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-alfreton-town-v-darlington

Quakers are still sixth in the table, seven points ahead of eighth placed Gloucester, with Curzon Ashton due at Blackwell Meadows on Tuesday evening.

Alfreton forced the first corner on 4 minutes in front of the Darlington fans, the ball was floated in for Branson to head powerfully towards goal from twelve yards, and the ball was blocked by one of his own teammates.

Quakers went ahead with their first attack. The ball was headed away by a defender as far as Ben Liddle, who volleyed the ball forward to Jacob Hazel, who swivelled and beat the keeper with a left foot shot for his 19^th of the season.

Alfreton responded with a corner that came out to Matt Rhead who fired over, and then they had a break down the right which ended with Adam Lund picking the ball up inside the area, but Tommy Taylor blocked at his feet for a corner that came to nothing.

Quakers created a half chance with a good crossfield ball by Jack Lambert for Kallum Griffiths to just keep in and cross to the near post for Kaine Felix to head wide.

Quakers went 2-0 up on 17 minutes. A ball up the left by Jassem Sukar found Hazel bursting clear, he got into the box and had a shot parried by Willis, but Felix was on hand to turn the ball home for his fourth goal of the season.

Alfreton responded with a run by Yusifu Ceesay which ended with him going down in the box when challenged by Jassem Sukar, but the referee waved play on.

It was nearly 3-0 when Hazel held the ball up well on the left and found Sukar on the overlap, and the left back’s low cross went into the six yard box where Felix had a twisting header well saved by Willis.

There was then a break in play for Taylor to receive treatment after being fouled by Rhead, 

Alfreton won another corner on 35 minutes . It went right across the Darlington six yard box without anyone getting a touch, and when the ball came back into the middle, Smith headed wide.

Quakers won a corner on 41 minutes thanks to Felix's persistence, but Liddle’s corner was cleared at the near post.

Alfreton pulled a goal back just on half time. A long throw came in from the right from Adam Lud and Rhead headed into the bottom corner.

Alfreton got a free kick in stoppage time, Salam curled the ball over the wall, but Taylor was in the right place to hold on.

Half time 1-2

Alfreton started the second half with a long throw that Rhead controlled and tried a shot from an acute angle that Taylor comfortably saved.

Rhead was involved again when he chested down a long clearance 30 yards out for Connor Branson to fire well wide.

Liddle found Lambert with a great ball over to the right, but Lambert lost possession inside the area.

Alfreton missed a great chance when Rhead headed down a left wing cross for Branson to fire straight at Taylor.

Griffiths then made a great tackle to stop Ceesay, but the referee gave a free kick and booked Griffiths instead, a decision which infuriated Quakers.

Quakers nearly scored on 61 minutes, when Lambert set up Liddle to cross from the left, and Willis could only parry the ball, only just out of Purver’s reach.

Adriano Moke came on for Danny Rose on 69 minutes.

But Alfreton levelled on 73 minutes. Rhead flicked on a long ball for Ceesay to turn and fire past Taylor.

Quakers broke from an Alfreton corner on 76 minutes when Lambert found Felix breaking down the right, and his cross was just too far of his teammates in the middle.

Rhead managed to get away from Cooper, but fired well over the top.

Quakers put on their second sub on 80 minutes, and Andrew Nelson was given a huge round of applause by the Darlington fans when he came on,

Quakers then nearly scored, when Sukar whipped over a cross from the left, and a defender put the ball over his own crossbar from a few yards out.

Wheater then made a great tackle as Branson tried to break away.

Hazel won a stoppage time corner which led to a scramble in the Alfreton box and Wheater claiming that he was fouled, but the referee gave a free kick the other way.

Full time 2-2

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Cooper, Wheater, Sukar, Rose (sub Moke 69), Liddle, Purver, Lambert (sub Nelson 80), Felix, Hazel

Subs: Rivers, Newall, Brookwell

Booking: Cooper, Griffiths, Wheater

Alfreton:

Willis, Clackstone, Preston, Cantrill, Smith, Wiley, Salam, Branson, Rhead, Ceesay, Lund (sub Hobson 66)

Subs: Askew, Butterfield, Oliver, Denton

Booking:  Rhead, Wiley