Darlington 3 Colwyn Bay 0

Darlington skipper Kevin Burgess scored twice in a comfortable win for Quakers against Colwyn Bay this afternoon.

Quakers had several chances in the first half, but couldn't make them count. They dominated the play throughout, and deserved the three points.

Quakers went close in the second minute. Nathan Cartman was fouled 30 yards out, and Adam Mitchell curled the free kick over the defensive wall and off the top of the bar for a goal kick.

They had another chance on 7 minutes when Mitchell curled a corner over to the far post, where Terry Galbraith’s downward header was saved at the foot of his post by keeper Shaun Pearson.

Quakers had a good chance on 13 minutes when Nathan Cartman, Lee Gaskell and Adam Mitchell all combined well and set up Stephen Thompson 18 yards out, but Thompson sidefooted wide.

[caption id="attachment_16562" align="alignnone" width="300"] Thommo sidefoots wide[/caption]

Quakers had a penalty shout on 22 minutes when Thompson crossed deep towards Gaskell in the penalty area, and Gaskell appeared to be held back by Mike Lea, but the referee waved away Quakers’ appeals for a penalty.

Colwyn Bay had a chance on 28 minutes when Jordan Harper curled the ball over from the left to the far post where Bradley Bauress volleyed wide.

Cartman, who had been off the field to receive treatment for a head injury, had an opportunity on the half hour when he burst up the middle, sidestepped his marker, and curled a right foot shot that Pearson just managed to push around the post.

Quakers hit the post on 38 minutes when Cartman played the ball into the path of Leon Scott 20 yards out, and the midfielder’s low shot beat Pearson but unfortunately hit the base of the left hand post.

[caption id="attachment_16565" align="alignnone" width="300"] Leon Scott hits the post[/caption]

Half time 0-0

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Quakers were awarded a penalty on 52 minutes. Nathan Cartman turned quickly and shot against the post, and as Lee Gaskell was following up, he was brought down by Jordan Fagbola. Colwyn furiously protested and Fagbola and Pearson were booked, but that didn’t put off Terry Galbraith, who neatly tucked away the penalty.

[caption id="attachment_16566" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lee Gaskell is fouled in the area[/caption]

Two minutes later, Galbraith popped up on the left and fed Thompson, who slightly off balance fired into the side netting.

Quakers went 2-0 up on 57 minutes when Mitchell burst down the right and found Cartman, who unselfishly rolled the ball sideways for Kevin Burgess to tap into the bottom corner for his fourth league goal of the season.

MG then brought off Gaskell, and replaced him with David Dowson.

Quakers then put a great move together down the left, which ended with Scott squaring the ball for Cartman, and somehow the little striker put the ball over the top from a yard.

Burgess then put himself on a hat trick on 83 minutes. Quakers won a corner on the right that was curled perfectly over to the far post by Galbraith for Burgess to head into the bottom corner..

After Bay keeper Pearson went off injured with Denson going in goal, sub Graeme Armstrong headed against the bar, and Scott curled the rebound over the top.

Stats

Shots on target: 7-0

Shots off target: 9-2

Corners 8-1

Free kicks 13-12

Yellows 2-4

Reds 0-0

Darlington: Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Mitchell, Scott, Gaskell (sub Dowson 70), Cartman (sub Armstrong 82), Thompson (sub Portas 79)

Subs: Provett, Armstrong, Nowakowski

Booking: Thompson, Mitchell

Colwyn Bay: Pearson, Roberts-Nurse, Lea, Fagbold, Boland, Rodgers, Bauress, Denson, Tuck (sub Williams 70), Sumner, Harper (sub Boothman 60).

Subs: Dowling, Bell, Matthews

Booking: Roberts-Nurse, Harper, Fagbola, Pearson

Attendance 1,077