Darlington 1 Curzon Ashton 3

Goal: Barton 15 mins, 0-1, Lees 27 mins, 1-1, Waring 65 mins, 1-2, Hayhurst 90+2, 1-3

Attendance 1404

Curzon Ashton won for the fourth successive time at Blackwell Meadows in Quakers' first home game of the season.

The visitors took a 15th minute lead, but Quakers bounced back well to equalise and then missed some good chances to take the lead. However, Curzon regained the lead from a setpiece, and then capitalised on a defensive mistake for the third.

Here's the reaction of manager Alun Armstrong and man of the match Jordan Mustoe:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-from-opening-day-defeat

The match was preceded by an impeccable minute's silence for long serving volunteer Mary Bowes and league official John Moules.

Curzon had a chance in the first minute, when Adam Barton crossed from the right, and Craig Mahon turned the ball straight at Tommy Taylor from twelve yards out under pressure from two defenders.

There was another half chance on 6 minutes when Isaac Sinclair found space 25 yards out but fired straight at Taylor.

Quakers had a promising attack up the left, but Jordan Mustoe’s cross went over everyone in the middle.

A free kick from the Curzon right on 15 minutes caused a problem for Quakers and that led to a corner. The ball was curled in from the right, only partly cleared, and Adam Barton was in space to fire low into the bottom right hand corner for the opening goal of the game

Quakers had a free kick midway inside the Curzon half on 19 minutes, but Liddle’s free kick was headed away by Barton about twelve yards out.

Kallum Griffiths then crossed from the right for Liddle to help on, but Hazel couldn’t position himself in the area to try an overhead kick.

Quakers levelled on 27 minutes when Tom Platt’s low shot from the edge of the area was pushed around the post by Curzon keeper Cameron Mason for a corner.

Jarrett Rivers curled the corner in from the left for defender Toby Lees to get away and head past Mason.

Curzon had Alex Kenyon booked on 38 minutes for a high tackle on Moke, when he could easily have seen red, then Salkeld was also booked for a late challenge as the game threatened to boil over.

Mustoe put a dangerous cross in from the left which was just headed away for a corner before Hazel could connect.

They missed a great chance to go in front just on half time when Moke threaded the ball into the box for Salkeld to control, but he pulled his effort wide.

Half time 1-1

Quakers started the second half with a left wing move and a cross by Mustoe, that Mason held on to at the far post.

Rivers found Salkeld with a good run into the box on the right, but Salkeld’s pull back was intercepted.

Mustoe then made a good run down the left and crossed into the box, where the ball was cleared to Liddle, whose ambitious volley went over the top.

Quakers nearly scored on 55 minutes. Rivers found Griffiths on the overlap on the right, and his pull back was touched wide by Salkeld, with Liddle just unable to get a touch as the ball went past him.

In Quakers next move, Platt found Griffiths, who hit a powerful right foot shot that Mason saved at full stretch.

Rivers and Griffiths combined well on the right, and when Griffiths crossed, the ball dropped for Platt, whose effort was blocked.

But against the run of play, Curzon took the lead on 65 minutes. A deep free kick came in from the left for George Waring to head home at the far post.

Quakers nearly levelled on 72 minutes when Mustoe floated the ball in from the left for Hazel to head against the bar.

They had a penalty shout on 78 minutes when Griffiths found Felix racing into the box and Felix claimed that he was fouled as he tried to cross, but the referee waved the appeals away.

After using all three subs, Rivers appeared to pull his groin and limped off with two minutes left.

And Quakers conceded a third in the second minute of stoppage time when they gave the ball away inside their own area, and Will Hayhurst beat Taylor with a low shot

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Lees, Lawlor, Mustoe, Platt © Liddle (sub Felix 67), Moke (sub Curry 76), Salkeld (sub Nelson 80), Rivers, Hazel

Subs: Hedley, Sukar

Booking: Platt Salkeld, Mustoe, (all fouls)

Mason, Poscha, Matthews, Kenyon, Sinclair, Storey (sub Mols 87), Hayhurst, Waring, Allen (sub Richards 82), Mahon, Barton

Subs: Spencer, Edmundson, Taylor

Booking: Kenyon