Darlington 2 Gloucester 1

Reid 4 mins, 1-0, Campbell, 27 mins, 2-0, Kotwica 61 mins, 2-1

Attendance 1,446

Two goals in the first 27 minutes helped Quakers to the points against Gloucester, and put them within a point of the play off places.

Quakers made hard work of winning the game, because they let Gloucester back into the game and in the second half, and there were memories of the Telford reversal, until the players picked themselves up and battled for the win -- their fifth in the last six league games. They are now a point behind the play off places.

Quakers took the lead on 4 minutes. Jarrett Rivers picked a loose ball up just outside the box, ran past three defenders and squared the ball  to his right for Sean Reid to turn the ball home, his second goal for the club.

It was nearly 2-0 when Ben Hedley crossed from the right for Justin Donawa to head against the bar with the keeper helpless.

Quakers had another chance when Rivers dribbled into the box again, and even though a defender tackled him,  Reid, who was backing him up, had a right foot shot saved by Maher to his left.

Quakers' pressure told against a static defence, and they scored another on 25 minutes. Campbell ran at the Gloucester defence and slipped the ball through for Reid, who was brought down on the six yard line. The ref pointed to the spot, from where Campbell sent the keeper -- who was an old Morecambe team mate of his -- the wrong way from the spot, his 10^th goal of the season.

Quakers kept the pressure up, and the hard working Hatfield set up Campbell, who drilled a low shot just wide of the left hand post.

Hedley then crossed well from the right for Donawa to put a diving header that went wide, and in the next attack Jack Lambert sent Donawa down the right and he pulled the ball back for Liddle to fire wide.

Half time

Darlington 2 Gloucester 0

Rivers provided the first action of the second half when he cut in from the right, reached the edge of the box, and fired left footed just wide of the post.

Gloucester replied with a right foot shot by Robert taht Connell pushed around the post.

The corner came over, Connell failed to hold on to Hamilton’s header, and Kotwica turned the ball in to put Gloucester back into the game on 61 minutes.

Quakers tried to reply, Hatfield found Rivers on the left, and the winger’s low shot was saved by Maher at the foot of his post

Hatfield then charged 30 yards through the middle and was stopped by a tackle in the box .

Manager Alun Armstrong then changed formation, bringing on Terry Galbraith to play three at the back.

Campbell fired over the bar after a left wing corner was cleared to him.

Hatfield then made another great run to get into the box, and his right foot shot was deflected wide.

Quakers still looked a bit nervous, and there was a scare in the last minute when Thomas fired just wide of the left hand post from 30 yards.

Quakers' next game is at home to Solihull in the Trophy on Wednesday night.

Darlington:

Elliott, Hedley, Liddle, Hatfield, Laing, Storey, Donawa, Lambert (sub Galbraith 73), Campbell (sub Thompson 82), Reid (sub Holness 90), Rivers

Subs: Watson, Bascome

Booking: Reid, Hatfield

Gloucester:

Maher, James, Senior, Daly, Hamilton, Thomas, Robert (sub Ebutt 81), Hanks, Jackson, Kotwica, Maxwell

Subs: Avery, Hainault, Johnstone

Booking: Maxwell, Ebutt