Thanks to our sponsors Cleveland Containers

https://www.clevelandcontainers.co.uk/

Chorley 1 Darlington 1

Scorer: Hall 60, Beck 86

Attendance 1296

A late goal by Mark Beck gave Quakers a deserved point in the intense heat at Victory Park.

Quakers created more chances in the game, but couldn't quite convert them, and it was Chorley who took the lead on the hour from a breakaway.

But Beck hit a left foot shot from a Jacob Hazel assist for the equaliser.

Here's his reaction:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/the-hottest-weather-ive-ever-played-in

and Alun's thoughts on the game:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/heat-made-it-tough-going

In temperatures of over 30 degrees C that were clearly going to cause problems later in the game in terms of energy and hydration, Quakers got a corner in the opening seconds. Junior Mondal’s corner went across the six yard box, and David Wheater couldn’t quite get on the ball at the far post.

Another chance came along in the second minute, when the ball was helped on for Jacob Hazel on the left to try a first time shot from the corner of the box, and the ball looped just over the top.

Chorley nearly caught out Quakers with a quickly taken free kick by Will Tomlinson to find Connor Hall, whose low cross was held by Taylor.

Good interplay between Beck and Hazel saw the ball laid off for Junior Mondal, who fired left footed over the bar from the edge of the box.

Quakers had a penalty shout turned down when Beck went to ground after colliding with Challoner, but the referee waved play on.

Chorley had a great chance on 12 minutes when Ollie Shenton got round the back of the Darlington defence and set up Adam Blakeman, whose right foot shot was headed off the line by the covering David Wheater.

Blakeman tried again from distance on 18 minutes, but Tommy Taylor comfortably held his effort.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 20 minutes, when Kallum Griffiths crossed from the right for Beck to put in a looping header that Matt Urwin held on to.

The referee took a much-needed drinks break after 25 minutes, the heat was already having an impact on some players.

Mondal made a good run into the box after the drinks resumption, but he couldn’t find a team mate, and Jack Lambert did the same again a minute later, but he was tackled for a corner.

A great diagonal ball by Wheater on 36 minutes to Ben Hedley let the left back get behind the defence but a defender just got a tackle in for a corner.

Half time Chorley 0 Darlington 0

Quakers nearly scored on the resumption. Lambert’s free kick from out on the left was headed away by a defender only as far as Alex Purver, who nodded the ball on for Hazel to quickly swivel and fire just wide of the left hand post.

Chorley hit back with a long range shot by Billy Whitehouse that went a yard over the top.

Lambert won a corner after dribbling in from the left, but the ball was headed away at the near post.

Chorley broke through on the hour. A Darlington attack broke down on the halfway line, and the ball was played through for Connor Hall, who was one-on-one with Taylor, and even though Taylor blocked his shot, Hall tapped in the rebound.

Quakers' response was to put Kaine Felix on for Junior Mondal and then Marcus Maddison for Alex Purver.

As the pace of the game slackened in the heat Hazel tried a first time volley from the edge of the area from a Beck knockdown, but the ball went over the top.

Quakers kept going, even though some players were clearly struggling in the heat, and levelled with four minutes left. A poor clearance by Chorley fell straight to Hazel, who played the ball in for Beck who took a touch and then struck a left foot shot beyond Urwin into the net.

And they nearly won it when Griffiths’ free kick was nodded down by Lawlor for Felix to poke just over the top.

Chorley threw men forward one last time, and Jake Lawlor broke up an attack with a good interception inside the Darlington penalty area.

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Lawlor, Wheater, Hedley, Moke, Purver (sub Maddison 73) Lambert, Beck (sub Sukar 90+3, Mondal (sub Felix 61), Hazel

Subs: Hughes, Rivers

Booking: Hazel

Chorley:

Urwin, Challoner, Wilson, Leather, Blakeman, Whitehouse, Calveley, Tomlinson (sub Nolan 68), Shenton, Ustabashi, Hall(sub Scarborough 73)

Subs: Smith, Johnson, Schorah,