Darlington 1 Brackley 1

Goals Newton 6 mins, 0-1, Hatfield 33 mins 1-1

Attendance 1186

Thanks to today's matchball sponsor

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Will Hatfield celebrated his return to the club with a spectacular free kick to earn a point against Brackley.

Quakers conceded an early goal and fought back well, and in the second half were getting on top until defender Jassem Sukar was red carded with fifteen minutes left.

However, Quakers managed the game well after that, and clinched their first point of the season.

There was some good play in the opening seconds, when Jacob Hazel took a quick throw in for Kallum Griffiths to get into the box, but the wing back’s cross was too far for his strikers.

Brackley had a penalty shout on 4 minutes when Jake Lawlor headed the ball back towards Tommy Taylor, who got to the ball just before Danny Newton who went down, but the referee waved play on

Brackley got the first corner of the game on 6 minutes on their left, and they took the lead from it, when the ball was curled in for Newton to head home from six yards.

Quakers had a great chance to equalise on 12 minutes. A good ball forward by left wing back Mustoe was controlled by Nelson in the box, and he held off two defenders and set up Hazel, whose right foot shot was saved by Lewis.

Quakers won their first corner on 23 minutes and it was headed away for a second on the opposite side.  Mustoe curled it in from the right, and the ball bounced off the top of the bar.

Brackley gained their second corner on 28 minutes , but the Quakers defence cleared easily.

Quakers levelled on 31 minutes.

They got a free kick just on the edge of the Brackley box for a foul on Nelson on 31 minutes , and Hatfield, making his home debut, drove the ball over the wall into the top corner of the net for the equaliser.

Brackley gained a free kick on 36 minutes. Murombedzi’s effort was blocked by the wall, and Calder struck a left foot shot towards the top corner that Taylor palmed away for a corner.

Brackley had another corner on 42 minutes , O’Sullivan put the ball in low into the near post where Gudger’s flick was held by Taylor.

Murombedzi went close with a right foot shot before half time.

HT 1-1

Brackley put Quakers under some pressure at the start of the second half, but the home side withstood it.

Quakers replied with a ball by Hatfield into the box from the right, but it was just too far for Moke.

Then Hatfield swung a free kick into the box for Lawlor to nod down and a defender just cleared before Hazel could get to it. Lees headed the corner just wide.

Quakers gained another one, and this time Hazel got away from his marker and had a header cleared in the six yard area.

Quakers nearly scored on 61 minutes. Nelson just kept the ball in on the left and pulled it back for Hazel, who then set up Moke to hit a right foot shot that Lewis touched on to the post.

Then Hatfield swung a free kick into the box for Lawlor to nod down and a defender just cleared before Hazel could get to it. Lees headed the corner just wide.

However at the other end, Mustoe curled a free kick over from the right for Nelson to volley over.

Quakers made two subs, Kaine Felix for Nelson who had limped off, and Ben Liddle for Moke.

Quakers were reduced to ten men on 75 minutes when Jassem Sukar was red carded for a late challenge on Matwasa, which meant that Quakers had to re-organise.

Brackley went close when O’Sullivan drove a free kick into the box for Armson to head over the top.

Quakers were forced back but defended their box well. They broke away on 88 minutes when Felix got away, but his shot was blocked.

Final score 1-1

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Lees, Sukar, Lawlor, Mustoe, Platt, Moke (Liddle 73), Hatfield,  Hazel, Nelson (sub Felix71)

Subs:  Felix, Liddle, Curry, Windass, Salkeld

Red card: Sukar

Brackley: Lewis, Carline, Calder, Murombedzi, Gudger, Dean, Matwasa, Bates, Newton, Armson, Crawford.

Subs: Turner, Wolby, Lyttle, O'Sullivan, Lilly