Bedford 2 Darlington 3

....Super Paddy scores two great goals

---- Amaru Smith makes a great impact

..... Brad Walker makes his debut as an early sub

.....Late winner for second successive year

Goals: Nto 38 mins, 1-0, McLaughlin 39 mins, 1-1, Stanton 45 mins 1-2, Payne 54 mins 2-2, McLaughlin 90 mins +2

Two goals from Paddy McLaughlin earned Quakers the points at the Eyrie.

The midfielder scored two beauties, the first with his left foot across the keeper, and the second a raking low shot into the bottom right corner -- the first goals he has scored for the club since he joined last year.

It was the second year running that Quakers had scored a late winner at the Eyrie.

Bedford took the lead on 38 minutes, but McLaughlin levelled straight away, with Ellis Stanton firing Quakers in fromt just on half time.

Bedford threatened to go on and win the game after they equalised on 54 minutes, but Quakers finished stronger and produced a thrilling climax.

Bedford won the first corner of the game after 3 minutes, and even though Quakers got the immediate danger away, the ball came out for George Moncur on the edge of the area, and he fired straight at Bobby Jones.

On two occasions Quakers tried to set debutant Amari Smith away on the left, but he was challenged twice on the edge of the box.

They had their first real chance on 13 minutes when Smith, Mark Beck and Paddy McLaughlin combined well and set up Ellis Stanton, who hit a right foot shot just wide from twelve yards out.

In Quakers’ next attack, McLaughlin moved up and fired left footed wide of the right hand post from 25 yards.

Quakers had to reshuffle on 18 minutes when Toby Lees went off injured, so on came new signing Brad Walker into the middle of defence.

They had a half chance on 27 minutes when a long throw from Barrow was flicked on, but Smith couldn’t quite reach the ball at the far post.

But Bedford had a chance when Moncur won possession midway inside the Darlington half, ran into the area, but Jones’ dive at his feet saw him lose possession.

Quakers went close on 37 minutes. McLaughlin and Smith both had shots charged down, but Smith won the ball back inside the area and McLaughlin set him up to fire straight at the keeper from a few yards.

But the home side went in front on 38 minutes, Eno Nto broke into the box on the right, and after Jones blocked his first attempt, he reacted first to the loose ball and fired past Jones.

But Quakers levelled straight away, McLaughlin ran into the box thanks to a Ben Hedley pass, rounded a defender and fired across the keeper into the top right corner of the net.

And they went in front at the start of stoppage time. They won another corner on the right which was curled in by McLaughlin, Ciaran Thompson claimed he was pushed, and as Bedford hesitated, the ball came out from the keeper for Ellis Stanton to score with a low left foot shot, his first goal for the club in 36 games.

Half time Bedford 1 Darlington 2

Bedford had the first chance of the second half, a low right foot shot by Reece Evans which went over the bar, but they equalised on 54 minutes. They won a free kick just outside the area, and Joe Payne fired through the wall and past the stranded Jones into the bottom left corner.

Quakers nearly regained the lead on 60 minutes when Tom Henson played a good ball into the box for Stephenson to turn quickly and hit the right hand post.

Quakers made their second sub on the hour, when Sam Hetherington replaced Smith, who had enjoyed an excellent debut.

Stanton curled a right footed free kick just over the bar on 70 minutes after a foul, while Beck held the ball up well inside the Bedford box and set up McLaughlin, who was just off target.

Bedford won a free kick just outside the area which Moncur drove into the wall, and Finlay Wilkinson’s shot was deflected wide. Quakers were defending their 18 yard line well.

Tommy Bryant came on for Stephenson on 82 minutes.

Hetherington made a good run up the left on 84 minutes, and his low cross was nearly put into the net by a defender.

Jones came to Quakers’ rescue on 85 minutes when the ball was pulled back for Moncur in space ten yards out, but Jones saved his shot well.

Quakers nearly won it when Hetherington and Beck combined well and set up Stanton, whose precise low shot was saved by the outstretched boot of Laurie Walker.

And they got the breakthrough in the first minute of stoppage time, when McLaughlin turned a defender, dribbled to the edge of the Bedford area, and beat Walker with a low shot into the bottom right corner of the net to the delight of the Darlington fans behind the goal.

Final score: Bedford 2 Darlington 3

Jones, Thompson, Lees (sub Walker 18), Barrow (c), Hedley, Stanton, McLaughlin, Henson, Stephenson (sub Bryant 82), Smith (sub Hetherington 60), Beck (sub Rutledge 89)

Subs: Mason, Wilkinson, 

Booking: Stanton foul 11 Thompson foul 33