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Darlington 2 Chester 1

Scorer: Dackers 17 mins, 0-1, Mondal 22 mins 1-1, Smith 57 mins, 2-1

Attendance 1200

George Smith's first goal for the club gave Quakers the points as they fought back from a goal down to win their first game against Chester this season at the fourth attempt.

Quakers trailed to a goal by Marcus Dackers which was cancelled out by Junior Mondal, who scored in his first game on his return to the club after his loan spell from Marske United.

And then in the second half, Smith struck the winner in great style.

Here's what Alun and George thought of the victory:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-to-chester-win

Quakers had a chance in the 3^rd minute. Will Hatfield’s cross was flicked on by Jake Cassidy for Jack Lambert to have a shot blocked for a corner, which the Chester defence headed away.

Quakers had a half chance from a setpiece on 6 minutes. Jack Lambert curled a free kick over from the right for Danny Ellis, twelve yards out, to head wide.

Danny Rose then set up Will Hatfield, who fired over left footed from just inside the area.

Chester had their first real attack on 10 minutes, which ended with Declan Weeks firing over the top from outside the area.

Quakers went a goal down on 17 minutes. Weeks hit a low shot from outside the box that Taylor couldn’t hold, and Marcus Dackers followed up and sidefooted past the keeper.

But Quakers were level five minutes later. Cassidy chased a ball into the box down the right, turned quickly and crossed left footed into the near post for Junior Mondal to flick past the keeper at the near post into the net -- Quakers first goal since the win at Farsley five games ago.

Chester nearly went back in front on 29 minutes. Weeks found space 25 yards out and struck a dipping right foot shot that Taylor fingertipped over the crossbar.

Quakers gained a corner on 32 minutes that Rose curled in from the right, and Stanway punched the ball away.

On 36 minutes Quakers won a free kick 25 yards out for a foul on Rose. Hatfield played the ball short for Rose to tap back to him, and Hatfield hit a low shot along the ground that Stanway saved.

Chester replied with a glancing header by Dackers that landed on the roof of the net.

Quakers had a penalty shout on 42 minutes when Smith played the ball into the box where Cassidy went down under a challenge from Stanway, but the referee waved the appeals away.

Half time 1-1

Quakers nearly regained the lead on 47 minutes. Cassidy found Smith out on the left, and Smith crossed into the near post where Mondal, at full stretch, put the ball over the top.

Lambert then found Rivers with a great ball out on the right, and Rivers dribbled past two men to get into the box and fired left footed just wide.

Lambert then picked the ball up on the left hand side, dribbled into the box, and Stanway tipped his shot over the bar.

Rivers also had an effort at goal from the edge of the box that went wide.

Quakers' pressure deservedly paid off after 57 minutes. 

Mondal, on the right, found Lambert with a crossfield pass. Lambert cleverly held the ball up on the left and waited for Smith to overlap, and Lambert played the ball perfectly into the path of the full back who fired across the keeper into the net – his first goal for the club.

It was reminiscent of the goal that Mark Barnard, who was the club's guest on Saturday, scored with his left foot in that memorable win over Burnley in the FA Cup in 1998.

It was nearly 3-1 when Lambert tried to curl a right foot shot towards the top corner, and Williams almost deflected the ball into his own net.

Taylor then kept Quakers in the lead with a good save at close range from Okera Simmonds, and then he saved a header off a corner from Simon Grand.

Chester pushed everyone forward for setpieces, and there was a break in play when Taylor needed treatment after a clash with Williams.

However, with extra defender Alex Storey on the field, Quakers held on against the late pressure and secured their first win in five games.

Final score: Darlington 2 Chester 1

Taylor, Hedley, Lawlor, Ellis, Smith; Hatfield, Rose; Rivers (sub Purver 76), Lambert (Dos Santos 90+2), Mondal (sub Storey 85), Cassidy

Subs:  O’Neill, Griffiths

Booking: Cassidy

Chester: Stanway, Roberts, Williams, Grand, Fitzpatrick, Burke, Roache (sub Waring 64), Weeks, Apter (Sub Horsfield 50), Stephenson (sub Simmonds 46), Dackers

Subs: Grey, Okagbue, 

Bookings: Roberts, Fitzpatrick