Two goals in three minutes give Quakers victory at Curzon
By Ray Simpson
Quakers win their fourth straight away game
Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 2
Goals: Hazel 76 mins 0-1, Lambert 79 mins, 0-2
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Darlington won their fourth away game in a row thanks to two superb goals in three second half minutes from Jacob Hazel and Jack Lambert.
Quakers are now back up to second, a point behind Brackley, because Kings Lynn lost at Farsley.
Quakers had to be patient after missing a couple of good chances in the first half and at the start of the second, but after Jacob Hazel and Jack Lambert broke the deadlock with two goals in three minutes, they took full control to give them a deserved victory.
Here are the goals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiBn99H2IvY
Kaine Felix, who was a constant danger down the right hand side, made a good run down the right after 6 minutes, beating a defender along the way, and his pull back was intercepted at the near post.
The first real chance of the game came after 11 minutes. Dan Dodds found Felix down the right with a great pass,and Felix pulled the ball back into the middle for Ben Liddle to fire left footed just over the top from ten yards.
Curzon’s first chance of the game came when a corner from the right landed at the feet of Connor Hampson, but his left foot effort was blocked by Dodds at the near post.
Jacob Hazel was just wide with a 25 yarder, and at the other end, keeper Tommy Taylor beat away a right foot shot by Josh Hancock.
Curzon got a free kick on the edge of the box on 26 minutes, but Ben Braithwaite curled the ball a couple of yards over.
Quakers responded with a move down the left, with Liddle setting up Hedley, whose shot was deflected over the bar.
They also created a half chance on 37 minutes when Lambert and Liddle combined well on the left, and Liddle’s cross was just too high for Felix in the middle.
They had their best chance on 41 minutes when Felix again beat his defender once again on the right, got into the box and set up Hazel, whose shot on the turn was smothered by keeper Chris Renshaw.
Half tme 0-0
Curzon had the first chance of the second half. Braithwaite picked the ball up on the left, got into the box, and forced Taylor into a good save with a low shot.
Quakers nearly scored at the other end. The elusive Lambert beat two defenders, played a 1-2 with Liddle, and hit a dipping right foot shot that the keeper just managed to push away.
But Quakers nearly gifted Curzon the lead on 51 minutes when the defence got into a right tangle, and Hancock picked the loose ball up and fortunately for Quakers sidefooted wide.
However, Quakers started to dominate and on the hour broke and nearly scored the opener. Dodds played a good ball forward for Felix to run into the box and set up Adriano Moke, who pulled his shot just wide of the left hand post.
Another chance went begging when Moke made a powerful 30 yard run and rolled the ball wide left for Hedley, who crossed to the far post where Felix came in but couldn’t turn the ball home from a few yards
Mark Beck came on as sub on 70 minutes, and his first touch was a neat flick for Hazel inside the box, but he couldn’t get a shot in. Nevertheless, Beck's presence was a real threat to the home side.
Quakers deservedly took the lead on 76 minutes. Jassem Sukar played a diagonal ball into the box and it ran to Felix on the far side, and he slipped the ball across the six yard box for Hazel to turn home for his 7th of the season in front of the delighted fans, who dashed across the terracing to join in the celebrations with the players.
Seconds after Hazel had a goal disallowed for offside from another Felix pass, it was 2-0 to rampant Quakers on 79 minutes. Keeper Renshaw came well out of his goal and cleared the ball straight to Purver, who nodded the ball forward for Lambert 25 yards out, and he steered the ball right footed into an empty net, his ninth of the season.
Curzon went down to ten men when Conno Dimoaio was shown his second yellow for a foul, but by then the points were on their way back to the north east
Final score: Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 2
Team: Taylor, Dodds, Lawlor, Sukar, Hedley, Moke (sub Beck 70), Purver, Liddle (sub Rose 90+1), Lambert, Felix (sub Griffiths 86), Hazel
Subs: Martin, Rivers,
Booking: Purver
Curzon: Renshaw, Hampson, Poscha, Matthews, Dimoaio, Walker, Hancock, Hayhurst, Waring, Braithwaite (sub Mahon 65), Richards.
Subs: Peers, Stevenson, Barton, Jessop
Red card Dimaio