Blyth 0 Darlington 0

Attendance 1523

Quakers produced a much better performance than of late, but it wasn't enough for all three points at Croft Park.

Kaine Felix hit the post, Alex Purver had one cleared off the line and they missed some other good chances, and they had to settle for their third successive away goalless draw.

Blyth also had their chances to win the game, as they hit the woodwork twice.

Nevertheless, because of Scarborough's defeat by Curzon Ashton, Quakers are now up to fifth in the table, two points ahead of eighth place. Gloucester and Chorley also dropped points.

Here's Alun's reaction to the game:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/we-seem-to-be-snatching-at-chances

And here are the highlights, courtesy of Kev

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/highlights-from-blyth-v-darlington-available-now

Blyth had a chance in the opening minute. The ball was lobbed forward for Cedric Main to latch on to, and Tommy Taylor was quickly off his line and blocked his shot for a fruitless corner.

Quakers then had an opening when Jacob Blyth found Felix on the right, and his low cross was just ahead of everybody.

Quakers had a better chance in their next attack when Hedley found Felix on the right, and he pulled the ball back for Jacob Blyth to fire over the top.

Blyth had a chance on 5 minutes when the ball was played across the Darlington box for Jordan Hickey to fire left footed wide.

Quakers nearly scored on 7 minutes. They won a corner on the right and after the ball was fisted out by Mitchell, Purver had a right foot shot cleared off the line.

Quakers nearly scored from another corner on 11 minutes. Nathan Newall curled the ball into the six yard box, where Felix headed against the base of the post.

And another chance came along when Sukar’s high ball into the box was nodded down by Jacob Blyth for Adriano Moke to fire just wide.

But Blyth nearly scored on 18 minutes when Quakers didn’t deal with a high ball, and it dropped for Nicky Deverdics to try a left foot shot that came back off the crossbar.

On 26 minutes, Quakers had a free kick 30 yards out that was taken by Rivers, but cleared by the Blyth defence.

Jacob Hazel put the ball in the net on 36 minutes from a Jacob Blyth flick on, but the flag went up for offside.

Blyth won a corner on the right on 42 minutes , which Quakers cleared. Main then dribbled into the Darlington box,  but his final pass went behind his team mates.0

Half time 0-0

Felix raced back at the start of the second half with a good tackle to stop Spellamn when the Blyth player broke into the box.

Quakers early broke through on 48 minutes when Hazel brought the ball down on the edge of box, and hit a left foot shot that produced a flying save out of Mitchell.

Blyth tried to reply with a run by Hickey but he mishit his effort wide of the right hand post.

Sukar made a good break for Quakers and slipped the ball through for Hazel, but he over ran the ball, and Mitchell saved at his feet.

At the other end, Main got through 1 on 1, but Taylor came to his side’s rescue with a good save.

But Quakers broke, and Newall crossed from the left for Jacob Blyth to head just over the top.

Andrew Nelson came on for Jacob Blyth on 65 minutes.

The game was now going swiftly from end to end, and O’Donnell tried a right foot shot that glanced off the top of the Quakers crossbar.

Nelson’s first touch from 30 yards out saw him try a right foot shot that went over the bar.

Blyth sent sub Chiabi on, and he set up O’Donnell, whose shot went just past the right hand post, and Quakers replied with a 25 yarder by Purver that the keeper saved.

A mistake in the Blyth midfield saw Nelson pick the ball up, and his low shot went straight at Mitchell.

Moke then broke and slipped through for Hazel, but Mitchell saved at his near post.

After a period of Blyth pressure, Nelson got up the left and the ball reached Felix at the far post, but he hooked the ball wide.

Blyth forced a last minute corner that Finn-Dawson headed wide.

Sub Brookwell led a break for Quakers and set up Nelson who shot over the top, and then Brookwell crossed for Nelson to head over.

Blyth had Finn-Dawson sent off in stoppage time for two yellow cards in two minutes, both fouls on Felix.

Final score: Blyth 0 Darlington 0

Team: Taylor, Hedley (sub Brookwell 89), Lawlor, Newall, Sukar, Moke, Purver, Rivers, Felix, Hazel, Blyth (sub Nelson 65)

Subs: Rose, Howe, Martin

Booking: Hazel (foul 57), Newall (foul 80)

Blyth: Mitchell, Evans, Lees, Hickey (sub Ferguson 90+2), O'Donnell, McGowan, Deverdics (sub Liddle 62), Main, Round (sub Chiabi 73), Cousin-Dawson, Spellman

Subs: Richardson, Elsdon

Red Card: Cousin-Dawson (two yellows)