Darlington 1 Gateshead 3

Langstaff 72 mins, 0-1, Charman 73 mins, 1-1, Scott 74 mins, 1-2, Langstaff 84 mins 1-3

Attendance 2049 (inc 366 from Gateshead)

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and our matchball sponsors, Vickers Bet

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Three goals in twelve minutes ended Quakers' hopes of beathing promotion chasing Gateshead.

Quakers held their own until a burst of three goals in as many minutes between the 72nd and 74th minutes, and then Gateshead sub Macauley Langstaff finished off the scoring.

The efforts of two games inside two days told on Quakers, while Gateshead had the advantage of having a free Boxing Day.

There was consolation for Quakers though in Luke Charman scoring another good goal to take his tally for the season to twelve.

The game was preceded by a minute's silence for those we have lost.

Quakers had the first attempt on goal after 6 minutes. Jake Cassidy ran down the left, turned on the edge of the area, and struck a low right foot shot that Jacob Chapman saved at the foot of the post.

At the other end, Gateshead got into the Darlington area, and Paul Blackett had a shot blocked.

In The Heed’s next attack, Tommy Taylor did well to block a low shot by Scott from twelve yards out.

The Quakers’ defence was forced back, and after some visiting pressure, Dan Ward’s cross was turned behind by Danny Ellis.

It was clear at this point which team had played on Boxing Day, and which one hadn’t.

Quakers though broke on the left on 30 minutes, but Luke Charman’s cross was headed away.

Charman was willing to try his luck from anywhere, and on 32 minutes he picked the ball up 25 yards out and Chapman had to get down sharply to save.

Quakers nearly broke through just on half time. Charman timed his run perfectly to pick up a good George Smith pass, ran into the area, but Chapman saved his shot well at the near post at the expense of a conrer.

When Jack Lambert’s flag kick came in, the ball was headed off the line at the far post.

At the other end, Adam Campbell’s cross hit the crossbar.

Half time: Darlington 0 Gateshead 0

Gateshead nearly scored straight after half time when Owen Bailey got on the end of a good move and 1 on 1, with Taylor, but the keeper saved well at his feet.

Quakers responded with an inswinging corner at the other end that saw Ellis have a header blocked, and the defender, who was almost flat out and off balance, put the rebound over the bar.

He again popped up on the left on 63 minutes when he beat two men and put in a teasing cross which was cleared as far as Cassidy on the edge of the box, but he fired over the top.

Gateshead replied with a cross from the right that Langstaff, who had just come on as sub, headed over the bar from ten yards out.

However, Gateshead took the lead on 72 minutes when Langstaff burst through the middle, and slipped the ball past the advancing Taylor.

But Quakers levelled straight away, when a great cross came in from the left for Charman to volley first time past Chapman, his 12^th goal of the season.

But Gateshead went straight down the other end, and made it 2-1 with a strike by Scott after he turned on the edge of the area.

They went 3-1 up on 84 minutes when Quakers failed to clear the ball inside their own six yard box, and the ball was set up for Langstaff to lash home his second of the game.

Final score: Darlington 1 Gateshead 3

Taylor, Griffiths, Ellis, Lawlor, Smith, Purver, Rose, Lambert (sub Rivers 67), Mondal (sub Dos Santos 79), Cassidy, Charman

Subs: Storey, Hedley,  Martin

Booking: Lambert, Griffiths

Chapman, Tinkler, Nicholson, Storey, Jacob, Hunter, Bailey, Ward (sub Williams 45), Campbell, Scott, Blackett (sub Langstaff 65)

Subs: Williamson, Pani, Wombwell