Quakers held to goalless draw after losing Ainge

By Ray Simpson

Quakers held to goalless draw after losing Ainge

Quakers now five unbeaten

Final score: Darlington 0 Guiseley 0

Quakers are now unbeaten in five games after they held Guiseley to a goalless draw at Blackwell Meadows.

Guiseley were strong, powerful and closed Quakers down at every opportunity, and Quakers' cause wasn't helped by a 41st minute head injury to Simon Ainge, who needed hospital treatment for a head injury.

Quakers won a free kick just outside the box on the right in the opening minute. Alex Henshall crossed to the far post towards Liam Hughes who headed it back across goal but Guiseley cleared.

Guiseley then made a useful break up the middle through Louis Walsh, who got into the box, but Luke Trotman pulled off a great tackle.

In Guiseley’s next attack Kaine Felix ran through on the left hand side with just Hemming to beat, but he hit the post.

A good cross from the right by Luke Trotman caused a moment of panic in the Guiseley defence when a defender miskicked, but they managed to get the ball away.

Guiseley got a corner on 25 minutes which was driven over to the far post where Thornton headed weakly over the bar.

Quakers had their first real chance on 29 minutes. Trotman made a good run into the box and had a cross cleared as far as Thompson, who climbed high and headed the ball back into the six yard box where Saunders turned the ball over the top.

Then some wizardy by Nicholson opened up the Guiseley defence and he laid the ball off for Thompson to fire across the face of goal.

Quakers had penalty appeals when Saunders claimed that he was pushed to the ground as he challenged for the ball in the box, but the ref wasn’t interested.

Quakers were forced into a change on 41 minutes when Simon Ainge went off with a head injury, sustained when he went for a left wing cross with a defender, with David Syers replacing him.  Quakers missed his aerial power after that.

Half time: Darlington 0 Guiseley 0

Quakers had a chance after the resumption, when Saunders got away down the right and tried to beat Green at his near post, but the keeper blocked his effort.

After Quakers had a free kick cleared by the Guiseley defence for a foul on Trotman, Felix broke down the other and forced Hemming into a good save low down.

Quakers had a let off on 61 minutes. James hit a low shot that Hemming could only parry, and Clayton, following up, managed to hit the bar from a couple of yards.

Then Felix had a cross deflected towards goal from the right, and Hemming just managed to tip the ball against the bar.

Quakers tried to lift themselves for the last 15 minutes, and Henshall showed good skill when he cut in from the left but fired over the top.

Guiseley nearly won it when Felix had another shot well saved by Hemming, but Clayton, following up, ran the ball wide when he should have scored

Darlington 0 Guiseley 0

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https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/novembers-darlo-fans-radio-podcast-is-here

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Hemming, Trotman, Elliott, Wheatley, Hughes, Galbraith, Henshall (sub Burn 85), Nicholson, Ainge (sub Syers 41), Saunders, Thompson

 

Subs: Glover, Hall, Lingthep

Booking: Trotman

 

 

Green, Moyo, Heaton, Purver, Thornton, Halls, Felix, James, Clayton, Hatfield, Walsh (sub Walters 81)

 

Subs: Morrison, Cummings, Harvey, Odejayi

Bookings: Walsh, James