Darlington 2 Brackley 4

Scorer: Hetherington 10 mins, 1-0, Maskell 32 mins 2-0, Lowe 34 mins, 2-1, 50 mins, 2-2, Donawa 52 mins, 2-3, Dean 60 mins, 2-4

Attendance 1416

Thanks to our match sponsors, Tempest Jones

https://tempestjones.com/

and our matchball sponsors, Blackwell Grange Hotel

https://www.blackwellgrangehotel.com/

Darlington allowed a two goal lead slip as Brackley came back to win 4-2.

Quakers led 2-0 after 32 minutes, but then they were beaten by two long throws, a setpiece and a goal by former Quaker, Justin Donawa. Brackley scored three times in the space of ten second half minutes to ensure that they maintained their unbeaten record at Blackwell Meadows, which now stretches to seven games.

Quakers started with plenty of promise and put together a good spell of pressure without managing to create an opening although Ben Hedley found space on the right to find Cedric Main with a low cross, but the striker couldn’t control the ball.

Quakers took the lead on 10 minutes. Cedric Main controlled a through ball from Elliot Forbes, found Jack Maskell, who couldn’t get a shot in, but instead he set up Sam Hetherington, who fired into the top right corner.

Quakers had a chance for a second. Kelly swung a free kick from the left over towards the far post, where Forbes headed wide.

And then another ball into the box caused panic in the Brackley defence, but first Hetherington and then Main couldn't get shots away

Some good play down the left by Kelly gave him the chance to make ground, and his low cross was cleared for a corner, but Quakers were penalised when the corner was taken.

There was a chance on 21 minutes when Hetherington’s cross from the right was cleared as far as Scott Barrow, who tried a low left foot shot that Jonny Maxted held on to low to his left.

Brackley won a corner on the right on 24 minutes that was curled into the near post, but Maskell headed the ball away.

Quakers wasted a half chance when Hatfield won the ball in midfield and played the ball through to Maskell, who put a right foot shot wide with two team mates unmarked square of him.

It was 2-0 on 32 minutes, following a throw in on the right, Kelly cleverly played the ball inside for Jack Maskell to sidestep a defender, and then coolly roll the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

But Brackley pulled a goal back within two minutes. A long throw in came from Justin Donawa on the right for Matt Lowe to score with a diving header.

Quakers had a chance for 3-1 when Maskell and Main combined to set up Kelly who dragged his shot wide of the post

Brackley had another long throw from the right, but Jameson managed to fist the ball away.

Half time: Darlington 2 Brackley 1

Toby Lees, who was wearing a new shirt for the second half after his original was torn, conceded a corner which was swung into the six yard box, but was cleared.

However, Brackley levelled from another long throw which went over the top of the Darlington defence for Lowe to hook home at the far post.

Then they went 3-2 up on 53 minutes when Brackley broke again, and Donowa beat Jameson with a low diagonal shot.

Quakers made their first sub on 55 minutes, Will Flint replacing Platt.

But it was 4-2 on the hour when a corner came in from the right and Gareth Dean poked the ball home from six yards.

Quakers tried to respond when Maskell found Hatfield in the box, but the midfielder was crowded out.

Then a careful build up on the right ended with a powerful shot by Flint that Maxted pushed over the bar.

Quakers made two more subs on 73 minutes, Hatfield and Hatherington coming on for Matty Cornish and Haseem Bakre.

Quakers made another sub on 80 minutes, Andrew Nelson replacing Main, but Brackley kept a firm grip on the game until the end.

Darlington 2 Brackley 4

Team: Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Platt (sub Flint 55), Hatfield (sub Cornish 74), Hetherington (Sub Bakre 74), Maskell, Main, Kelly

Subs: Nelson, Stirland

Booking: Platt 16

Brackley include former Darlington player Justin Donawa in their starting line up.

Brackley: Maxted, Carline, Dean, Roberts, Lowe, Pollock, Lyttle, Donawa, Lilly, Byrne, Hall

Subs: Calder, Bates, Newton, O'Sullivan, Okafor