Quakers beaten by two second half goals
By Ray Simpson
Now five points behind the play offs
Darlington 0 Brackley 2,
Ndlovu 71 mins 0-1 , Armson 78 mins, 0-2
Attendance 1298
Quakers play hoff hopes have now just about disappeared after they were beaten by promotion chasing Brackley at Blackwell Meadows this afternoon.
Quakers had their chances at the start of each half, but Brackley scored twice in a seven minute spell in the second half to win the points and keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.
Quakers nearly scored in the second minute. Nathan Lowe played a good ball into the box for Cameron Thompson to control, and Brackley keeper Danny Lewis went full length to push his left foot shot away.
Danny Ellis headed a free kick away from the Darlington penalty area at the other end.
Quakers were awarded a free kick 30 yards out for a foul on Lowe which he took himself, and curled wide of the right hand post.
Brackley nearly went in front on 15 minutes when Armson curled a free kick over from the left to the far post, where Janaai Gordon had a point blank effort saved by keeper Tommy Taylor.
The visitors went even closer on 22 minutes when Jordan Richards played the ball out to Wes York, who struck a right foot shot that struck the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.
On a bumpy, bobbly pitch, Quakers steadily got back into the game, kept possession well and put together some good passing moves which ended with crosses being overhit into the penalty area
Half time 0-0
At the start of the second half, Ben Hedley put in a teasing cross from the left that Lewis held on to underneath his crossbar.
Playing some good football, Quakers nearly took the lead when Lowe made a good run down the right, knocked the ball past a defender, and set up Cameron Thompson, whose right foot shot went across goal and slipped just past the far post.
Then Griffiths won the ball on the far side of the penalty area and found Adriano Moke, who sidestepped a defender ten yards out, but his rising effort was pushed over the top by Lewis.
Quakers had a let off on 64 minutes. A corner came in from the right, and sub Lopes had a close range effort knocked off the line by Danny Ellis, and then Kevin Dos Santos blocked the follow up effort.
Quakers were given a free kick when Lambert was fouled 30 yards out, but the defensive wall blocked Lowe’s free kick.
Brackley stunned Quakers and took the lead on 72 minutes, when a long clearance was flicked on for Lee Ndlovu to run through and beat Tommy Taylor.
And the visitors were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes when Kallaum Griffiths was adjudged to have tripped Gordon, and Jimmy Armson scored from the spot for 2-0.
Final score
Darlington 0 Brackley Town 2
Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Ellis, Lawlor, Hedley, Moke (sub Cassidy 80), Rose, Lowe (sub Purver 71), Lambert, Dos Santos (sub Mondal 85), Thompson
Subs: Smith, McHale
Team: Lewis, York, Franklin, Murombedzi, Lomas, Dean, Lowe, Armson, Ndlovu, Gordon (sub Lopes 60), Richards
Subs: Myles, Prosser, Mitford, Rolt
Today's game is being sponsored by Glenwood Paints
https://glenwooddecoratingsupplies.co.uk/
The matchball is being sponsored by Hathaway and Cope (Life and Pensions) Ltd
The special sponsor is Fall Timber Ltd
