Darlington 0 Curzon Ashton 2

Attendance 1810

Richards 34 mins, 0-1, Poscha 66 mins, 0-2

Quakers' hopes of a sixth successive home win were dashed by defeat at home to Curzon Ashton.

Quakers were below their best, and didn't create enough chances against a well-organised defence, and they were beaten by two setpieces.

Curzon had the first chance on 2 minutes. A right wing corner fell to the edge of the box for Connor Di Miaiao, and his left foot shot was deflected over.

Quakers responded at the other end, with a header forward by Jarrett Rivers for Junior Mondal, who pulled the ball back for Kevin Dos Santos to have a shot deflected wide.

Quakers had a half chance on 6 minutes when Rivers swung a corner from the right to Jake Lawlor, who headed over from 12 yards.

A mistake in the Darlington defence let Craig Hobson through, but Tommy Taylor blocked his shot with his feet at the near post.

After a quiet period, Jake Cassidy burst down the right and struck a right foot shot that Mondal nearly deflected, and Curzon keeper Chris Renshaw saved.

Curzon took the lead on 34 minutes. They gained a free kick on the edge of the Darlington box, and Jordan Richards curled the ball around the wall and into the bottom right hand corner.

In first half stoppage time, Taylor held a looping header underneath his own crossbar from Thomas Peers.

Just on the half time whistle, Mondal had a free kick from 30 yards deflected wide.

Half time :

Darlington 0 Curzon Ashton 1

Quakers made two subs at half time, Dominic McHale and Cameron Thompson coming on for Jake Cassidy and Jarrett Rivers.

Quakers had an early corner in the second half that was headed away.

Some good play down the left enabled Mondal to release Smith on the left, but he put his cross behind.

Curzon broke away and nearly got a second when the Darlington defence didn’t deal wit ha bouncing ball, and Hobson sliced his shot wide.

Quakers responded with a good through ball by Purver for Mondal, but the forward’s shot was blocked.

Smith put in a better cross on on the hour, but the keeper held on to the ball.

Curzon got their second on 66 minutes, when Richards curled a free kick over from the left to the far post where Marcus Poscha forced the ball in.

Hobson missed a great chance for a third when broke clear, but fired wildly over the top.

Quakers made their third sub on 70 mins, Nathan Lowe coming on for Adriano Moke.

McHale showed some good ball control and nearly set up Thompson, but his pass was just too far ahead.

Then Smith put in a good low cross from the left that Thompson couldn’t quite reach a couple of yards out.

Dos Santos moved in from the right, played a 1-2 with Mondal, and fired just wide of the left hand post.

And in the last minute, an effort by Mondal was pushed away by Renshaw.

Final score:

Darlington 0 Curzon Ashton 2

Stats -- thanks to Simon Hahn

Team: Taylor, Hedley, Ellis, Lawlor, Smith: Moke (sub Lowe 70), Purver; Rivers (sub Mchale 46), Dos Santos, Mondal, Cassidy (sub Thompson 46)

Subs: Storey, Griffiths

Booking: Moke 

Curzon:

Renshaw, Challoner, Poscha, Peers, Dimiao (sub Nolan 81), Wilson, Lussey, Richards, Hobson (sub Whitham 76), Mahon, Barton

Subs:  Curran, Rain, Teale

Booking: Whitham

Match sponsors:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-match-sponsor-talent-insight

matchball sponsors

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-curzon-ashton-match-sponsors-ckj-interiors

Special sponsors:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-curzon-ashton-special-sponsors-msg-bike-gear

Guest sponsors:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/welcome-our-guest-sponsors-hergametoo