Charman belter puts Quakers through
By Ray Simpson
The Trophy campaign begins with a win
Buildbase FA Trophy second round
Darlington 2 City of Liverpool 0 (winners at home to Telford on Saturday)
Scorers: Charman (12 mins, 1-0) Sousa (75 mins, 2-0)
Quakers are through to the third round of the Buildbase FA Trophy with a good attacking display against City of Liverpool.
Luke Charman set them on their way, with an excellent right foot shot from 30 yards tat will be an early contender for the Goal of the Season award.
However, they made hard work of it, as they missed several chances before Erico Sousa made sure after 75 minutes.
Check out the highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYrynktuZMM
Adam Campbell charged down an attempted clearance by the COL keeper Theo Roberts with the ball going out of play.
Campbell then had a low shot from the edge of the box easily saved by Roberts.
COL replied with a deflected shot by Dominic Reid that keeper Melvin Minter, who was going the wrong way, was relieved to see go just past the post, then Mitchell Bryant forced a low save out of Minter.
Quakers responded with a right foot curler shot by Erico Sousa that flew just over the top corner, then Sousa put a left foot shot over the bar after a good run by Will Hatfield through the middle.
Quakers took the lead after 12 minutes with a great goal by Luke Charman. He picked the ball up 30 yards out and hit a sweet right footer that flew over the keeper into the top left corner of the net, his fifth goal of the season.
Quakers almost got a second when Tony McMahon crossed deep from the right for Charman to head just over the top.
However, COL nearly levelled when Shorrock got round the back of the defence on the right and drove the ball into the middle where Hazlehurst just failed to connect.
Jordan Watson then moved up for Quakers and tried a right foot shot from 25 yards that went a couple of yards wide.
COL weren’t afraid to move forward at every opportunity, and Hazlehurst struck a right foot shot that Minter saved under his crossbar.
Quakers then put together a couple of good flowing moves, one of which ended with Sousa just failing to control a pass from Hatfield in the area.
McMahon nearly made it 2-0 on 41 minutes. He was fouled 30 yards out, took the free kick himself and curled the ball towards the top corner, but Roberts tipped the ball over the top.
And then Wheatley made a good run into the box and set up the supporting Rivers, whose low shot was blocked.
Half time 1-0
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Quakers missed a great chance at the start of the second half. McMahon got round the back of the defence on the right, hit the ball low across the six yard box for Sousa, who sidefooted just wide.
Sousa was then denied by a defender after Charman had broken into the box on the right, and his low cross seemed to give Sousa a simple tap in until the defender intercepted.
Another great move saw Rivers and McMahon combine to give Hatfield a shooting chance, but the keeper saved the midfielder’s effort.
COL kept going at the other end and Bryant sidefooted a right wing cross just wide of the target.
Quakers wasted another chance when Sousa picked up a loose ball and set up Campbell whose shot was blocked, and another chance went begging when Sousa cut in from the left , drew the keeper and set up Campbell, whose effort was blocked on the line with Quakers appealing in vain for handball.
Quakers then made two subs, O'Neill and Maguire coming on for Charman and Campbell.
Another chance was wasted on 71 minutes when Sousa put sub Dan Maguire through, but his shot came back off the foot of the post.
On 73 minutes Sousa dribbled through on the left and set up O’Neill, but Roberts saved well at his feet.
Finally, much to their relief Quakers, got the second on 75 minutes when Sousa broke away, steadied himself and fired low past Roberts, his third goal for the club.
After that, Quakers stayed well in control and Will Hatfield skimmed the bar in the last minute -- their next tie is against Telford at Blackwell Meadows on Saturday.
Final score: Darlington 2 City of Liverpool 0
Here's what Alun had to say:
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/alun-we-should-have-scored-more
Virtual match sponsors man of the match -- Erico Sousa
Darlington
Minter, McMahon, Laing, Hunt, Watson, Hatfield, Wheatley, Campbell (sub O’Neill 62), Rivers, Sousa (sub Hudson 81), Charman (sub Maguire 62)
Subs: Saltmer, Holness, Atkinson, Reid
City of Liverpool:
Roberts, Corrigan (sub Hinnigan 59), McCarten, Barrow (sub Stephens 78), Shorrock, Devine, Burke, Rigby (Aley 73), Bryant, Hazelhurst, Reid
Subs: McEllen,