Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 0

Attendance 695

Darlington collected a hard-earned point at the Tameside Stadium.

Quakers had some good chances in the game, and at times wasted some good openings in the Curzon box. They also had their solid defence and a couple of a good saves by Peter Jameson to thank for their fourth point and second clean sheet of the weekend.

They also finished the game as the stronger side, which was a testament to all the hard work they put in.

One negative though -- youngster Oli Thompson pulled his hamstring, just four days after joining us on loan. 

Curzon had a penalty shout on 3 minutes when Buckley-Ricketts ran into the area and went down when he was challenged, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers put together a good move from the edge of their own box on 8 minutes, when Will Hatfield, Will Flint, Jarrett Rivers and Cameron Salkeld all worked the ball out well to the right from where Matty Cornish played the ball into the box, but Jack Maskell couldn’t control it.

Curzon got a free kick in a central area about 20 yards out on 13 minutes, and Luke Griffiths’ free kick went into the wall.

Quakers broke on 15 minutes when Maskell won the ball on the half way line, and Cornish played the ball out right to Salkeld, who played the ball into the middle for advancing Cornish to fire just wide of the right hand post.

Curzon had their keeper , Bobby Jones, booked on 20 minutes when the ball broke for Maskell midway inside the Curzon half, and the keeper dashed out of his goal and brought him down. Fortunately for him, there were covering defenders and the referee instantly showed yellow.

Quakers nearly scored on 31 minutes. Forbes found Maskell with a good ball on the edge of the box, Maskell turned and struck a low right foot shot towards the bottom left corner, but Jones saved well.

After that, Quakers twice got themselves into good positions in the box, but wasted the opportunities.

Jones must have had his heart in his mouth though when he wandered out of his box to control a wayward through ball, and the ball appeared to hit him near his hand, but the referee waved play on

Curzon had a chance on 39 minutes when Buckley-Ricketts broke into the box on the right and pulled the ball back for Jimmy Spencer, who sidefooted wide.

Lees then made a great tackle in the area after Mols had broken through.

Cornish and Maskell combined to give Will Hatfield a chance in the box, but his effort was blocked.

Curzon went up the other end, and Mols drifted in from the left and curled a right foot shot around the post.

Jameson pulled off a good save on 44 minutes when the ball was played into the near post for Spencer to volley towards goal, but the keeper pushed the ball around the right hand post.

Quakers got a free kick on the right 20 yards out in stoppage time, but it ended with a shot by Hatfield that was blocked.

Half time: Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 0

Curzon had a half chance when the ball was played forward for Spencer in the area, and even though Forbes was close to him, he managed to get off a right foot shot from a tight angle that went just over.

Quakers replied with a right foot shot from Jarrett Rivers from 25 yards straight at Jones.

Quakers won a corner on 55 minutes but the ball was cleared at the near post. Levi Andoh tried his luck with a long throw, but again the ball was cleared

Curzon went close on the hour, when they played the ball across field for Will Hayhurst to hit an angled shot that went just past the post.

Jameson was then quickly off his line to block Buckley-Ricketts, who had latched on to a Hayhurst pass inside the area.

Sinclair then made a mazy run, but his effort went straight at Jameson.

At the other end, Maskell laid the ball off for Cornish, who scooped his shot wide of the left hand post.

At this stage, both teams were clearly tiring and feeling the effects of their games on the previous Saturday.

Quakers had already sent on Oli Thompson for Rivers, but he went off injured on 75  minutes and had to be replaced by Alex Payne.

Quakers had a good chance on 77 minutes when Maskell laid a through ball off for Salkeld, who sidefooted over the bar.

Nelson thought he’d got the better of Jones way out on the bye line, but the ref pulled him back for a foul on a defender.

Quakers put their fourth sub on after 87 minutes, Oscar Taylor for Salkeld.

Quakers won a corner off a long throw by Andoh in the 92 nd minute, but Curzon headed the ball away.

Final score: Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 0

Jameson, Barrow, Lees, Forbes, Andoh, Cornish (sub Nelson 71), Hatfield, Flint, Rivers (sub Thompson 61, sub Payne 75), Maskell, Salkeld (sub Taylor 87)

Subs: Hedley