Darlington 3 Kettering Town 0

Scorer: Thompson 18, Rivers 47, Thompson (pen) 75

Attendance 1344

Stephen Thompson scored twice as Quakers eased to a comfortable victory over Kettering.

Thommo took his goal tally to 96 for the club, just four behind the record held by Allan Walsh, and he admitted afterwards that he could have had four or five.

But nevertheless, Quakers played some very pleasing football, which was worthy of the loud ovation they received from the fans at the end of the game.

Quakers started with Michael Liddle at right back, and Jordan Watson at left back.

Kettering had a free kick on 3 minutes about 30 yards out that Daniel Nti drove wide of the left hand post.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 6 minutes when Liddle curled a free kick from the right into the box for Galbraith to head against the post.

They had another chance on 13 minutes when Campbell and Thompson exchanged passes just outside the box, and Thompson curled a right foot shot just over the top.

And another chance opened up when O’Neill crossed from the right to the far post where Thompson set up Rivers, and his right foot shot went just past the post.

Quakers took the lead on 18 minutes when Thompson was fouled 25 yards out, and he picked himself  up curl the free kick delightfully over the keeper and into the roof of the net.

He nearly added a second when Campbell put him through, but the keeper saved with his legs.

But at the other end, Elliott made an excellent diving save to keep out a header from a free kick.

It should have been 2-0 on 42 minutes. Campbell sent O’Neill away up the left, O’Neill squared the ball for Campbell who helped it on to Rivers, who in turn agonisingly sidefooted wide.

Thompson then popped up on the left and set up Campbell, who fired at White from an acute angle.

Half time

Darlington 1 Kettering 0

Quakers made it 2-0 two minutes after the resumption when they put a lovely flowing move together down the left, and Campbell pulled the ball back for Rivers to backheel into the net

It was nearly 3-0 when Rivers cut in from the right and curled a low shot that the keeper just managed to parry.

Rivers was involved in another chance on 58 minutes, when he received the ball from O’Neill and set up Campbell, who fired first time over the top.

Quakers kept control of the game, and made a couple of subs before they went 3-0 up on 75 minutes. Hatfield and Campbell played a 1-2 which put Hatfield in the clear, and he was pulled down in the area. The ref pointed to the spot, from where Thompson blasted home

They nearly scored twice more in the next minute, with White pulling off full length saves from Rivers and Hatfield.

Final: Darlington 3 Kettering 0

Team: Elliott, Liddle, Watson, Bascome, Laing, Galbraith (sub Heaton 73), Rivers, Hatfield (sub Holness 82), Campbell, Thompson, O’Neill. (sub Donawa 65)

Subs: Bell, Wheatley

Bookings: Watson, Donawa

White, Stohrer, Kelly, Skarz, Graham, Richens (sub Hodge 46), Meikle, O'Connor, Nti, Solkhon, Kennedy

Subs: Brighton, Carta,  Milnes, Massaro

Bookings: Richens, Nti, Kennedy