Darlington 3 Alfreton Town 1

We'd like to thank our match sponsors Newarc

https://www.weldability-sif.com/pages/results.asp?subcat=newarc%20welding%20machines

We'd also like to thank Cleveland Containers

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

and EBAC

https://www.ebac.com/

Goals:

Leesley (22 mins, 1-0), Hazel (25 mins, 2-0), Lawlor (og 70 mins, 2-1), Felix (90+12 3-1)

Attendance 1274

Quakers went top of the table with their third successive victory -- and what an exciting win it was.

Not even a second half fightback by Alfreton and a 15 minute floodlight failure could stop Quakers, who turned on the style in the first half and could have been four or five goals up at half time.

After the lights went out early in the second half and were restored after a 15 minute break, Alfreton pulled a goal back, but Quakers once again showed their character and fought back to score a third through Kaine Felix deep into stoppage time.

The points put Quakers on top on goal difference ahead of Brackley, who were held at Southport.

Quakers nearly scored in their first attack. Ben Hedley played the ball forward to Jacob Hazel, who rounded the keeper, but sidefooted into the side netting.

Here are the goals and Alun's reaction

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-from-midweek-win-over-alfreton

Quakers gained their first corner on 3 minutes, but the referee spotted a foul at the far post.

Dayle Southwell then made a run into the box for Alfreton, but Tommy Taylor held his shot low down to his right.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 6 minutes, when Joe Leesley crossed from the left for Mark Beck to head just wide.

And there was another chance on 9 minutes when Beck laid the ball off for Lambert, who hit a low left foot shot that nearly squirmed through the keeper’s hands.

Hazel again got away from the last defender despite having his shirt tugged, and played a 1-2 with Lambert, but again the keeper saved.

A good diagonal pass by Leesley won a corner for Quakers on 19 minutes, but the ball was held by the keeper.

Quakers deservedly took the lead on 22 minutes. Quakers patiently built up an attack from the back, which ended with Lambert playing the ball perfectly for Joe Leesley to fire left footed across Willis into the net.

Three minutes later, it was 2-0. Willis took a goal kick straight to Hazel on the edge of the box, and the striker quickly controlled the ball and beat Willis with a low left foot shot to end his recent drought.

And there was nearly a third when Alex Purver won possession, ran forward and hit a low shot that Willis saved low down to his right.

Quakers kept the pressure going, and Jassem Sukar crossed deep to the far post for Beck to head on to the roof of the net.

Beck and Hazel were proving a real handful for the Alfreton defence, and Quakers missed a great chance when Dodds crossed from the right for Beck to head the ball down, but Hazel dragged his shot wide from six yards

Half time 2-0

Alfreton gained a corner right at the start of the second half , but Purver got the ball away at the near post, and then two minutes later gained another on the opposite side, which Conor Branson headed against the crossbar, with the Darlington defence scrambling the ball away to safety.

The floodlights then went out, and frantic efforts were made to restart until they were successful fifteen minutes later. Thanks to the Darlo fan who came and helped out.

Quakers gained a corner on the right on 75 minutes, but Beck was pulled up for a foul at the far post.

Alfreton then gained two corners in the space of a minute, but the Darlington defence held firm.

Quakers broke down the right, and Dodds crossed into the middle where Lambert couldn’t quite control the ball.

But Alfreton pulled a goal back on 85 minutes when Ahmed Salam tried his luck with a left foot shot from 25 yards, that deflected off Lawlor and went into the net.

And the visitors nearly levelled when Danny Preston broke down the left and crossed to the back post where Salam headed over the top

There was a huge penalty shout when Felix ran into the area and seemed to be upended by George Cantrill, but the referee waved the appeals away.

To the relief of every Darlington follower, Quakers made it 3-1 in the 12^th minute of stoppage time, when Beck flicked on Taylor’s long clearance for Felix to chase into the box past a defender, and squeeze it past the advancing keeper.

Team: Taylor, Dodds, Lawlor, Sukar, Hedley, Purver, Moke, Leesley, Lambert (sub Rose 90+7), Hazel (sub Felix 66), Beck

Subs: Liddle, Rivers, Barbosa

Booking: Hedley (90+3)

Alfreton: Willis, Clackstone, D Preston, Cantrill, Smith, Wiley, Salam, Branson, Rhead, Southwell, Hobson

Subs: Lund, Denton, Butterfield, F Preston, Askew