Four unbeaten for Quakers with Chorley win
By Ray Simpson
Another promotion chasing team beaten
Darlington 3 Chorley 0
Scorers: O'Neill 27 mins, 1-0, Rivers 54 mins 2-0, Hatfield 58 mins, 3-0
Attendance 1,331
Sponsors man of the match: Will Hatfield
Quakers are now unbeaten in four league games after an impressive win over promotion chasing Chorley.
With new signing David Wheater in the side -- drafted in on Friday because of injuries to Alex Storey and Danny Ellis -- Quakers steadily grew into the game, and the opening goal by Tyrone O'Neill put them in control.
Sub Jarrett Rivers and skipper Will Hatfield scored in the second half, which Quakers controlled throughout.
Here are the reactions of manager Alun Armstrong, skipper Will Hatfield and defender David Wheater to the win:
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-to-win-over-chorley
Quakers are now unbeaten in four matches, and are just four points behind the play offs in twelfth place.
Quakers had a scare in the second minute when Jon Ustabasi tried to chip Tommy Taylor, but the keeper just managed to hold the ball under the crossbar.
Chorley went close again with a header by Jack Sampson from an Adam Blakeman corner, then Ustabasi fired high over the top.
Quakers won a corner on 10 minutes that Jack Lambert floated over and Chorley keeper Matt Urwin put out for another corner that came to nothing.
David Wheater then made a good interception at the other end when Ustabasi ran into the box, then Sampson headed a right wing cross over the top.
Tommy Taylor then pulled off a good save low down to his right to push away a low 25 yarder by Billy Whitehouse.
Quakers took the lead with their first real opening of the game on 27 minutes. Right back Kallum Griffiths found left back Ben Hedley with a great crossfield pass, and Hedley crossed perfectly into the middle for Tyrone O’Neill to head past Urwin, his third goal for Quakers.
Chorley nearly levelled on 31 minutes. Ustabasi played a one-two to get into the box, but Taylor saved with his feet.
Quakers were forced into a sub when Junior Mondal pulled up injured with a hamstring injury -- he will be out for four to six weeks with it -- and was replaced by Jarrett Rivers.
Quakers nearly got a second with an inswinging corner by Lambert that was cleared off the line.
Half time:
Darlington 1 Chorley 0
Quakers went 2-0 up on 54 minutes. Lambert played the ball forward into the box for Dos Santos to turn quickly, get to the bye line and pull the ball back for Rivers to slide home his second goal of the season.
It was 3-0 on 59 minutes. A cross from the right by Griffiths wasn’t cleared by the Chorley defence, and the ball dropped for Hatfield on the edge of the box, and he steered the ball into the top right corner.
It was nearly 4 when Lambert got away down the left and fired straight at the keeper.
Quakers played some good controlled football after that, with Chorley unable to make much progress.
Dos Santos came off to a loud ovation from the fans when he was subbed for Purver.
Chorley rallied late in the game and had a penalty shout turned down for handball.
Final score: Darlington 3 Chorley 0
Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Wheater, Lawlor, Hedley, Hatfield, Rose (sub Wheatley 84), Mondal (sub Rivers 34), Lambert, Dos Santos (sub Purver 81), O'Neill
Subs: Martin, Cassidy
Chorley: Urwin, Senior, (sub Alli 62) Leather, Baines, Blakeman (sub Smith 65), Calveley, Shenton, Whitehouse, Sampson, Hall (sub Holmes 75), Ustabasi
Subs: Smith, Blyth, Okome, Alli, Holmes.
Booking: Calveley, Blakeman
Thanks to our match sponsor: NC Group
And our matchball sponsors: MSG Bike Gear
https://www.msgbikegear.co.uk/