Darlington 1 AFC Fylde 1

Quakers couldn't finish off Fylde after dominating the second half against the league leaders.

Quakers came back to level at half time thanks to Josh Gillies' sixth goal of the season, and they completely dominated the second half, with Fylde hanging on for grim death from a barrage of corners and setpieces.

And right at the end, a dream possible farewell to Heritage Park was controversially denied when a goal by David Syers was ruled offside.

Quakers had the first attempt at goal in the first minute. Mark beck nodded a high ball down for Stephen Thompson to fire left footed over the bar from 25 yards.

Quakers had another chance on 3 minutes, when Josh Gillies found Kev Burgess 25 yards out and he also fired over the top.

Quakers opened up the Fylde defence down the right on 10 minutes, when Thompson crossed to the far post, and Gillies had his effort blocked by Rhys Taylor.

Quakers then forced a couple of corners, the second of which was taken by Gillies that he curled over to the far post, and Syers headed the ball down and over the bar from a few yards.

Fylde had their first chance on 23 minutes when Rowe picked a loose ball up 30 yards, made space for himself and fired well wide.

Fylde went in front on 27 minutes, when Rowe received the ball on the corner of the box, turned, and hit a right foot shot over Peter Jameson into the top corner.

But Quakers missed a good chance to level a minute later when Gillies crossed from the left, and Syers sidefooted wide.

Rowe had another chance when he twisted and turned and curled a right foot shot over the top.

Quakers kept battling away, and nearly levelled on 39 minutes. Beck was fouled 10 yards outside the box, and Gillies curled the ball towards the top right corner, where Rhys Taylor pushed the ball out for a corner.

But Fylde nearly got a second, when a corner was flicked on at the near post, the ball was flicked towards goal, and Liam Marrs cleared off the line.

Quakers levelled just on half time with a route one goal. Jameson cleared the ball downfield, where it went straight through the heart of the Fylde defence for Gillies to control and slip past the advancing keeper for his sixth goal of the season.

Half time 1-1

Quakers got a free kick two minutes into the second half for a foul on Beck 30 yards out, but Galbraith fired the ball into the wall.

Quakers missed another great chance on 53 minutes. Galbraith whipped a free kick in from the right, Taylor saved at full stretch, and Syers could only bundle the ball over the top.

Attendance 2001

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But they nearly scored on 66 minutes, another Galbraith corner was swung in from the right and Syers headed over from six yards out.

Quakers had a half chance, Thompson turned well 30 yards out, found space, and hit a right foot shot a couple of yards wide.

It was all Quakers at this stage, and a goal looked inevitable with the Tin Shed, which was packed to the rafters, cheering them on.

Quakers piled forward, and Cartman had a shot blocked, then right at the end, Syers had a goal disallowed for offside from a Galbraith free kick, although he claimed that he was well onside. 

At the final whistle, there were mixed feelings, as Quakers were so lose to winning, and came away disappointed with just a point.

And it could also have been the last game at Heritage Park, but that will depend on the Trophy draw (the next round is on the 26th November) and whetehr Blackwell Meadows passes inspections by the FA, council and other stakeholders.

Team: Jameson, Marrs, Watson (sub Scott 68), Turnbull, Burgess, Thompson (sub Cartman 84), Falkingham, Beck, Syers, Gillies

Subs not used: Bell, Hunter, Hardy

Booking: Syers.

AFC Fylde

Taylor, Wilson, Kennedy, Langley, Williams, Bond, Hardy (sub Blinkhorn 73), Finley, Rowe, Bradley, Daniels (sub Dixon 57)

Subs not used: Collins, Baker, Hughes

Booking: Daniels, Wilson, Kennedy

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