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Darlington 2 Blyth Spartans 1

Roberts 11 mins, 0-1, Campbell 13 mins, 1-1, Thompson 75 mins, 2-1

Attendance 1355

Stephen Thompson's 97th goal for the club gave Quakers three well-deserved points against Blyth.

Quakers created loads of chances but couldn't convert them, until Thommo blasted the winner after 75 minutes -- his 97th goal for the club, three short of equalling the club record.

Quakers had an early penalty appeal turned down when Terry Galbraith picked up a corner just inside the Blyth box, and Galbraith claimed that a grounded defender played the ball with his hand as he tried to beat him.

And in Quakers’ next attack, Tyrone O’Neill got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Adam Campbell to volley over the top.

Blyth went close on 7 minutes, a corner was swung in from the left by Jake Orrell for former Darlington player Scott Fenwick to head wide.

Then Elliott produced a diving save from Fenwick after Dale drove a first time cross into the middle from the right.

Quakers fell behind on 11 minutes when they lost the ball in midfield, and the ball was threaded through for Callum Roberts to coolly sidefoot past Elliott.

But Quakers were level within two minutes when O’Neill laid the ball off for Campbell to neatly beat Foden from ten yards, his fourth of the season.

Quakers had to make a sub on 15 minutes when Atkinson limped off and was replaced by Holness.

O’Neill nearly put Quakers in front with an optimistic shot from 25 yards that went just past the left hand post.

Quakers kept the high tempo pressure going, and Holness got down the right and forced a good save out of Foden, then from the corner that followed, Galbraith’s header was cleared off the line.

O’Neill had another chance on 27 minutes when he turned on a ball into the box by Rivers, and his shot on the turn was deflected over.

Quakers were piling the pressure on, and Rivers played a corner along the ground for Campbell to turn and have a right foot shot deflected over the top.

Then just before half time, Rivers cut in from the right and had a low shot saved by Foden, and O’Neill fired straight at Foden.

Half time Darlington 1 Blyth Spartans 1

There was a chance at the start of the second half when Campbell broke up the left and played the ball inside to O’Neill, who switched the ball to his left foot and fired just past the post.

Campbell popped up on the right to control a diagonal pass, and he cut inside to strike a left foot shot that went just wide.

But Blyth replied with a raid up the left by Wrightson, who fired just past the far post.

Wheatley played a good 1-2 with Rivers on the right, and Wheatley’s low effort was well held by Foden.

Thompson cut in from the left but pulled his right foot shot a few yards wide, then Campbell hit a well timed volley from the edge of the box straight at Foden.

Wheatley then tried a right foot shot from 25 yards that curled just wide of the left upright.

But Quakers finally broke through on 75 minutes. Campbell and O’Neill tried to batter their way through, but the ball ran for Thompson, who hit a superb rising right foot shot from 20 yards that beat the keeper all ends up – his 97^th goal for the club!

After that, Quakers didn't take any risks, and picked up their first win in four games.

Final score: Darlington 2 Blyth Spartans 1

Team: Elliott, Atkinson (sub Holness 16), Watson, Wheatley, Laing, Galbraith, Rivers, Hatfield, Campbell, Thompson, O’Neill

Subs: Bell, Holliday, Morrison, Heaton

Blyth: Foden, Robson, Horner (sub Scott 46) , Hawkins, Ritson, Devitt, Wrightson, Orrell, Fenwick (sub Mouanda 83), Roberts, Dale

Subs: Evans,  Harker