Alfreton 1 Darlington 1

Salmon 29 mins, 1-0 Cornish 87 mins 1-1

A late goal by Matty Cornish earned Quakers a point at North Street.

Quakers steadily blunted Alfreton's long throw and high ball tactics, and Cornish struck with his fifth goal of the season to complete a better second half.

The point said plenty for Quakers' grit and determination as they fought back from an aerial onslaught.

Quakers had the first attempt at goal in the first minute when Jack Maskell received a throw in, turned and tried a shot from 25 yards that went wide.

Quakers won the first corner two minutes later, but Caden Kelly’s corner was cleared.

There was a half chance for Quakers on 4 minutes when Will Hatfield found Kelly on the left, and he fired into the side netting from a tight angle.

Alfreton had a chance on 6 minutes when a deep cross from the left was headed back across goal for Lewis Salmon to head over the top.

Alfreton won a corner on 8 minutes, which was floated into the middle for Adam Lund to head powerfully towards goal, but Jameson saved well.

Kelly nearly opened the scoring with an ambitious effort. He spotted Sykes-Kenworthy off his line, so from fully 60 yards he hit a powerful effort that went a couple of yards wide of the right hand post.

There was another chance for Alfreton on 14 minutes when the ball was crossed into the near post for Salmon to put a diving header just wide of the left hand post.

Jameson made another good save on 19 minutes when Jed Abbey tried his luck with a left foot shot that the keeper touched over the bar.

Alfreton’s long throw tactics won them a corner when Jake Day’s header was deflected wide, but Quakers managed to clear.

The home side’s pressure paid off on 29 minutes when former Darlington player Nathan Newall got round the back of the defence and set up Salmon to turn the ball home.

Quakers nearly levelled on 35 minutes. Main was fouled out on the left, and Barrow floated the ball over to the far post where Maskell had a first time volley cleared off the line.

Alfreton put another long throw into the box from Lund, and this time Salmon headed harmlessly over the bar.

But Quakers created another chance when Hedley set up Barrow, who had been up for a free kick, to strike a left foot shot that the keeper touched around the post.

From Kelly’s corner, Toby Lees headed wide of the left hand post.

Quakers started the second half with a counter attack by Main, which took him into the Alfreton area, but he was crowded out.

Alfreton won a corner on 52 minutes which was swung in from the right for Max Hunt to head over the top.

Quakers responded when Hedley found Sam Andreucci, who in turn laid the ball off for Hatfield to fire over the top.

Quakers made their first sub on 64 minutes, Matty Cornish replacing Andreucci,  but were then forced into a second when Stirland limped off and was replaced by Rivers.

They kept going, and Hatfield curled a 25 yard free kick wide of the left hand post after Main was brought down.

Main thought he should have had a penalty when he went down in the area when he was challenged on 85 minutes, but the referee waved play on, much to Quakers' annoyance.

And Quakers perseverance was rewarded when they levelled on 87 minutes when Main set up Cornish, who steered the ball into the bottom right corner from 25 yards

Quakers went for the winner, and Hatfield had a free kick saved by Sykes-Kenworthy in stoppage time.

Team: Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Stirland (sub Rivers 72), Barrow, Flint (sub Bakre 85) , Hatfield, Andreucci (sub Cornish 67), Maskell, Main, Kelly.

Subs: Maddison, Small

Bookings: Lees, Hatfield, Bakre.

S