York City 3 Darlington 1

Willoughby 69 mins, 1-0, Hancox 70 mins, 2-0, Donaldson 80 mins, 3-0, Thompson 90+3 mins, 3-1

Attendance 3579, including 616 from Darlington

Quakers were beaten by a burst of three goals in eleven minutes at the Community Stadium -- but the final scoreline flattered the hosts.

The game was poised midway through the second half, and it looked as if Quakers might break through first, but a speculative cross opened the scoring for the home side, and that was followed by a dubious second goal with Quakers claiming that the scorer was well offside when he ran through.

A third came from the penalty spot, with Cameron Thompson capping a good personal display in his first start with a late consolation.

The match brought Quakers' four game unbeaten run to an end.

Both sets of fans were in full voice when the match started.

Kevin Dos Santos got past three men in the box after three minutes, but his way to goal was blocked.

A free kick by former York player Kallum Griffiths wasn’t dealt with in the York defence, and after the ball bounced on the six yard line, Jake Lawlor headed into Pete Jameson’s hands.

After a good run by Thompson on the counter, Will Hatfield set up Dos Santos who fired over from the edge of the box.

Quakers nearly scored on 11 minutes. A long clearance was headed straight to Jake Cassidy, who ran to the edge of the York box and fired right footed just over the top.

York had their first real chance on 15 minutes when Kurt Willoughby picked the ball up on the left, turned, and curled a right foot shot just past the right hand post.

York had another chance on 24 minutes when a good move found Paddy McLaughlin in space on the left, and his low shot was blocked on the six yard line by Griffiths.

Quakers gained a corner on 26 minutes that Cassidy, off balance, could only head into Jameson’s hands.

Quakers were always looking for a quick counter, and Griffiths lifted the ball into the box for Thompson to fire over.

York nearly scored on 33 minutes. Lenell John-Lewis beat David Wheater to the ball, got into the box, and forced keeper Tommy Taylor into a good save.

And John-Lewis had another chance four minutes later, but Taylor smothered the ball well.

There was a half chance for Thompson on 42 minutes when the ball dropped to him just outside the box, but his effort was deflected wide.

Half time 0-0

Thompson won the first corner of the second half for Quakers, but York got the ball away at the near post.

Quakers opened up York on 59 minutes when Thompson got into the box on the right and pulled the ball back towards Dos Santos, who was denied by a defender.

And they nearly scored on 62 minutes when Dos Santos broke away, found Jarrett Rivers on the right, and Rivers set up Cassidy, whose right foot shot skimmed the top of the crossbar.

Thompson then showed great skill down the left to get away down the left and cross , but Jameson held on.

York took the lead against the run of play on 69 minutes.  Willoughby picked the ball up on the left, crossed into the middle with his right foot and the ball evaded everybody and went into the net.

A minute later, it was 2-0, when Mitch Hancox broke away with the defence appealing for offside, and he slotted the ball past Taylor. 

York were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes when sub Clayton Donaldson went down after tangling with Wheater, and he scored from the spot.

Qaukers kept going and pulled a goal back in the last minute when Thompson dribbled through the York defence and stabbled the ball past Jameson.

Final score

York City 3 Darlington 1

Taylor, Griffiths, Wheater, (sub Ellis 84) Lawlor, Hedley, Hatfield (captain), Purver, (sub Wheatley 83) Rivers, Dos Santos (sub O'Neill 81), Cassidy, Thompson

Subs: Smith, Storey, , 

Booking: Taylor, Purver

Jameson, Duckworth, Barrow, McLaughlin, Dyson, Willoughby, Greaves (sub Brown 30) , Kouogun, Wright, Hancox, John-Lewis (sub Donaldson 67)

Subs: Woods, Campbell, McKay

Bookings: Greaves, Barrow, Hancox