Darlington 1 Chester 1

Jones 58 mins, 0-1, Scott 90 mins 1-1

Attendance 1178

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Josh Scott rescued a point for Quakers against Chester at Blackwell Meadows, just as it seemed as if the game was lost.

It was more than Quakers deserved, as they created several good chances, but couldn't find a way past the Chester keeper until the full back scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Charlie Lennon made his full debut and caused Chester all kinds of problems, but was denied a goal on at least three occasions.

Here are the highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eub0NDxlW0Q

Chester had the first half chance of the game, a deep cross from the right which was headed wide from ten yards out by Nathan Woodthorpe.

Charlie Lennon nearly dribbled his way into the box at the other end, but a defender managed to get a challenge in and clear the ball.

Quakers won the first corner on 5 minutes, but Scott Barrow couldn’t get any direction on his header from Charlie Lennon’s outswinger from the right.

Quakers gained another corner a minute later on the left, and after three players couldn’t get a shot in at close range, Scott Barrow drove the ball wide.

However, as the rain got heavier, Chester nearly took the lead when a low cross from the right was turned past the post by Dylan Mottley-Henry from a few yards out.

At the other end, Lennon made a great run taking him past two defenders, but his lay off for Main was just too short and a defender intercepted.

Barrow got a good tackle in on Tom Peers as he was threatening to break through.

Chester had the best chance of the game so far on 26 minutes when the ball was played in from the left for Mottley-Henry to curl a right foot shot just wide.

But then Quakers went straight down the other end, and Will Hatfield hit a right foot shot from 30 yards that George Murray-Jones saved at full stretch to his right.

Quakers nearly went in front on 36 minutes when McGowan found Lennon on the right, and Lennon whipped in a low cross that Jack Maskell met with a great diving header, but Murray-Jones saved well.

And they had another chance on 45 minutes when Maskell headed down a free kick for McGowan to drive wide of the right hand post.

Then just on half time, Maskell headed just over from Main’s chip.

Half time 0-0

In the first minute of the second half, Lennon made another good run in from the right, and his pass for Maskell was intercepted.

Then Lennon found Hatfield running forward, and the midfielder crossed for McGowan at the far post, but his effort was blocked.

Then Main won the ball 30 yards out, ran forward, and curled a right foot shot just wide

At the other end, Scott did well to block a right foot cross at the expense of a corner.

But Chester scored from the following corner on 58 minutes. Weeks played the ball into Jones, who turned quickly and placed the ball past Jameson

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty on 61 minutes when Main got on the end of a long ball, and seemed to be brought down as he ran into the area, but the referee waved play on.

Lennon then made a fantastic 75 yard run from well inside his own half to deep inside the Chester penalty area, only for Murray-Jones to save his effort.

But Chester nearly got a second when Kevin Roberts crossed from the right, and Jameson made a point blank save from Conor Woods.

Lennon never stayed trying, and he picked up a pass from Hatfield and hit a left foot shot that Murray-Jones saved.

Quakers made their second sub on 80 minutes, Maskell coming off for Aidan Rutledge.

Lennon was denied again on 86 minutes when Hatfield’s free kick was deflected off the wall into his path, but Murray-Jones saved well, although Quakers appealed for handball against a defender who was standing next to the keeper.

And in the last minute, Lennon picked the ball up on the edge of the area, curled a shot towards the bottom corner, but Murray-Jones pushed the ball away.

And Quakers finally broke through when the Rutledge nodded down Cedric Main’s cross for Josh Scott to sidefoot home

Final 1-1

Team: Jameson, Barton (sub Griffiths 70), Lees, Barrow, Scott, Platt, Hatfield, McGowan, Lennon, Maskell (sub Rutledge 80) Main

subs: McGrath, Forbes, Kirokiro, Hedley