Darlington 1 Chester 2, 

Goals: 0-1 Weeks 40 mins, 0-2 Whitehouse 64 mins, 1-2 Lawlor 90 mins +2

Attendance 1912

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Darlington were beaten at home by Chester, who maintained their record of having not lost away since August.

Quakers came up against a well-organised defence, who only allowed them a couple of chances, and they were beaten by a goal in each half, although Jake Lawlor pulled a goal back in stoppage time.

The result means that Quakers stay in fifth place, but they now have only a two point advantage over the eighth placed clubs.

Here's the reactions of Alun and Danny Rose

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

On 4 minutes, Quakers won a free kick on the left for a foul by Heywood on Andrew Nelson for which the Chester player was booked.

The ball was curled in by Danny Rose and cleared as far as Nelson who set up Jacob Hazel, who tried a curling left foot shot that the keeper Harry Tyrer, saved at the second attempt.

Chester tried to attack down the right through Coates, but Whitehouse couldn’t control his right wing cross and put the ball out of play for a goal kick.

They had a free kick on the left inside the Darlington half  on 15 minutes, but Heywood’s cross was too high, and another in a similar position two minutes later, which Jacob Blyth headed away.

A patient build up across the field for Quakers ended with Kallum Griffiths crossing the ball over the bar, and then going down injured and needing treatment from Danny. Niall Brookwell came on to replace him.

Chester had a half chance when a left wing cross was headed out as far as Iwan Murray, and he put a right foot shot over the top from the edge of the box.

Chester won a corner on 32 minutes thanks to a deep cross by Coates from the right that Blyth put out at the far post, but Hazel managed to clear the corner when it came in from the Chester left.

Chester took the lead on 40 minutes. Charlie Caton got to the bye line on the left and fired the ball across the six yard box, and Declan Weeks was there to turn the ball home.

Half time 0-1

Quakers got a free kick at the start of the second half about 25 yards out for a foul on Hazel, who took the free kick but put it over the top.

Cooper than made a good interception after Murray had broken up the left.

Quakers had a good opening that lifted the crowd on 57 minutes, when Blyth won possession and laid the ball off for Hazel to run on to, and he struck a left foot shot that Tyrer saved.

Quakers won another free kick 25 yards out and Nelson curled the ball over the top. Quakers then made their second sub, putting Kaine Felix on for Blyth on 59 minutes.

Cooper made another good challenge in the box, stopping Caton, but Chester made it 2-0 on 64 minutes, when Whitehouse picked the ball up on the left, sidestepped two challenges, and beat Taylor with a low right foot shot into the bottom left hand corner.

Quakers made their third sub on 72 minutes, Declan Howe coming on for Alex Purver.

Jassem Sukar prevented a third when he just got a tackle in on Willoughby inside the area, and sub Hall headed the loose ball into the side netting.

Quakers had a chance on 83 minutes when Felix sent Hazel away, but the striker’s shot in the area was blocked by a defender.

Quakers had a free kick through Rose that was cleared to Nelson, whose right foot shot was blocked.

Quakers pulled a goal back in stoppage time when Tommy Taylor’s deep free kick was fisted clear by Tyrer and the ball dropped for Felix to fire towards goal, and even though his effort was blocked on the line, Jake Lawlor forced the ball home.

Team: Taylor, Griffiths (sub Brookwell 23), Lawlor, Cooper, Sukar, Purver, (sub Howe 72) Rose, Moke, Hazel, Blyth (sub Felix 59 mins), Nelson.

Subs: Newall, Wheater.

Bookings: Nelson (66 mins foul) Cooper (80 mins foul)

Chester: Tyrer, Weeks, Kenyon, Willoughby, Williams, Coates, Earl, Murray (sub Roberts 80), Heywood, Caton (sub Hall 72), Whitehouse

Subs: Dudley, Thomas, Edwards

Booking: Heywood, Weeks