Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 1

Goal: Maskell 6 mins, 0-1

Curzon gained the first corner in the second minute. The ball was hoisted deep towards the far post, where Ruben Curley volleyed wide.

Quakers obtained their first corner of the game on 6 minutes from a Max Howells cross which was cleared at the near post, and Quakers took the lead from it. The ball was floated into the middle by Ellis Stanton where Jack Maskell came steaming in and headed past the keeper for his tenth goal of the season.

But Quakers threatened again when Howells made a good run, played a 1-2 with Maskell,  but a defender just managed to intercept.

Quakers won another corner on 19 minutes which McGowan curled in, but the referee spotted a foul on a defender.

It was nearly 2-0 when Stanton found Tom Tweedy on the left, and he crossed to the far post where Howells volleyed into the side netting, and there was another chance when Maskell pounced on a mistake, rounded a defender, but Hawkins saved at his feet.

Howells, who was causing all sorts of issues on the right, cut in and had a left foot shot deflected behind, then Main had a low effort saved.

And there was another chance when Scott Barrow set up Will McGowan, whose left shot was saved at full stretch by Hawkins.

But when Curzon broke to the edge of the Darlington area, McGowan tracked back and made a great tackle and stopped Alex Curran.

The chances resumed at the other end, and a teasing cross by Tweedy was met by Maskell, but his header was saved on the line.

Quakers thought they’d scored a second from a corner on 36 minutes that the keeper punched in the air and Main thought he’d put the ball over the line, but the assistant kept his flag down.

Tweedy, who had more of a central role, popped up on the right to put in another teasing cross that landed on the roof of the net, then Stanton put McGowan through but from a tight angle he could only find the side netting.

Quakers ended the half well on top, and fully deserving their lead.

Half time

Curzon Ashton 0 Darlington 1

Watson, Forbes, Lees, Barrow, Howells, Stanton, Allan, McGowan, Tweedy, Main, Maskell

Subs: McGrath, Hedley, Griffiths, Lowes, Rutledge, Myers-Smith, Cornish