Darlington 4 Farsley Celtic 2

Maskell 16 mins, 1-0, Kelly 27 mins, 2-0, Iwobi 42 mins, 2-1, Abankwah 51 mins, 2-2, Maskell 73 mins 3-2, Hetherington 76 mins 4-2

Attendance 1370

Today's match sponsor: CKJ Interiors

Today's matchball sponsor: Bandera, Texas

Quakers survived a scare against Farsley before they picked up the three points at Blackwell Meadows.

After leading 2-0 and looking comfortable with goals by Jack Maskell and Caden Kelly, Farsley scored either side of half time to increase the anxiety levels.

But Maskell scored with a powerful header and restore Quakers’ lead, with Sam Hetherington adding the fourth.

Quakers are now five points behind the play offs, with four games remaining.

Quakers had the first attempt on goal on 3 minutes when Cedric Main played the ball in from the left for Matty Cornish to hit a low shot that Jenson Kilroy saved at the foot of his post.

Farsley replied when Cole Hyde played a 1-2 to get into the Darlington box, but Toby Lees got in a good saving tackle and stopped him.

Quakers were denied by a good save by Kilroy on 9 minutes when McGowan played the ball inside for Hatfield to hit a right foot shot from 25 yards that the keeper saved at full stretch to his left.

Farsley got a free kick about 25 yards for a foul, and Joao Silva curled the ball around the wall and into Jameson’s hands.

Quakers replied with a good ball forward by McGowan which saw Jenneh’s clearance rebound off Main, and Kilroy dashed off his line and saved at the striker’s feet.

Quakers took the lead after 16 minutes. Hatfield played the ball into the right side of the box for Kelly to put into the six yard area for Jack Maskell, on his return from injury, to swivel and beat Kilroy at his near post for his seventh goal of the season.

They went looking for a second and McGowan turned well and crossed from the left, and the keeper just managed to punch the ball away from Maskell.

Quakers pinned Farsley into their final third, and that pressure was rewarded with the second on 27 minutes. A good, patient build up ended with McGowan splitting the defence for Kelly to latch on to and lift over the advancing keeper for his sixth goal for the club.

Farsley nearly pulled one back when Silva found space on the left and shot left footed towards goal, but Jameson saved at the foot of his post.

Quakers won a free kick on the left that Kelly drilled into the near post, and Kilroy just managed to push the ball around the post.

Main thought he should have had a penalty when he seemed to be tripped as he dribbled into the area, but the referee awarded a free kick against him for simulation.

The third nearly came on 42 minutes. Another good, measured pass by McGowan found Main running into the box, and the striker’s flick beat Kilroy but bounced off the post.

However, Farsley stunned Quakers and pulled a goal back when Justin Iwobi beat the offside trap, and even though Jameson blocked his first effort, the ball dropped for the Farsley man to regain control and score.

Half time Darlington 2 Farsley Celtic 1

Quakers nearly scored straight after the restart. Kelly swung a corner over from the right for Lees to power towards goal, but a defender somehow blocked his shot.

However, Farsley levelled on 51 minutes when Abankwah broke into the box and fired towards the far post, and the ball went into the net off Matty Cornish.

Quakers responded with a low shot by Maskell that Kilroy just touched around the post.

Then Main played a good 1-2 with McGowan but pulled his shot wide of the left hand post.

Quakers made their first subs on 64 minutes, Tom Platt and Sam Hetherington coming on for Will Hatfield and Matty Cornish, and then five minutes later, Jarrett Rivers came on for Ben Hedley.

Quakers regained the lead on 73 minutes. Kelly found Barrow on the left, and the skipper crossed perfectly for Maskell to head powerfully into the net.

It was 4-2 on 76 minutes. Main controlled a high ball from McGowan inside the Farsley half and played the ball over a defender for Hetherington to latch on to and knock past the keeper.

Quakers kept a firm control after that, and made two more subs, Blair Adams and Hazeem Bakre coming on for Scott Barrow and Caden Kelly.

And in the last minute, Maskell was just off target for his hat trick.

Final score: Darlington 4 Farsley 2

Team: Jameson, Hedley (sub Rivers 69) Lees, Storey, Barrow (sub Adams 84), Hatfield (sub Platt 64), Cornish (sub Hetherington 64), McGowan, Kelly (sub Bakre 84), Main, Maskell

Subs:

Bookings: Hedley 13, Main 36, McGowan 50, Maskell 62, Kelly 75, 

Kilroy, Abankwah, Jenneh, Polwarth, Bumhira, Youmbi, Hyde, Mampala, Knodolo, Iwobi, Silva

Subs: Monteiro, Ameho, Edmondson

Referee: Callum Jones