Quakers looking for another home win
Darlington 1 King's Lynn 1
Rutledge 57 mins, 1-0, Lambert 61 mins 1-1
Attendance 1241
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Darlington had to settle for a point against King’s Lynn in a game of few chances at Blackwell Meadows.
Aidan Rutledge broke the deadlock in the second half, but that was quickly cancelled out by former Darlington player Jack Lambert
Quakers nearly won the game late on, but Scott Barrow's effort came back off the post and Aidan Rutledge headed just wide.
Nevertheless, Quakers remain seventh in the table, and are now unbeaten in their last nine home league games.
Here are the goals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZBJqrpjGHA
Here are Steve's thoughts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h-D45cDxfo
Quakers put the Linnets under pressure early on with a throw in from the left, but the ball eventually ended up in the hands of keeper Paul Jones.
Max Howells then put a cross into the box from the right, but Charlie Lennon was pulled up for a foul.
Quakers then won a free kick on the right which was swung in by Will McGowan for Aidan Rutledge to head into the keeper’s hands.
The Linnets won their first corner on 14 minutes, but Quakers got the ball away through Tom Allan, and then in their next attack Ben Hedley hooked the ball away on the six yard line.
Quakers nearly scored on 20 minutes. Lennon beat a defender on the left and floated the ball into the six yard box, where Rutledge just failed to get a touch and the ball struck the outside of the post.
Quakers then had a good spell of pressure, without being able to open up the Linnets defence.
They had a penalty shout on 32 minutes when Scott Barrow’s free kick was nodded down by Rutledge for Tom Allan, who seemed to be pushed, but the referee gave a goal kick.
They had a half chance on 39 minutes when McGowan floated a free kick in from the left, and the ball bounced off the back of Allan into the keeper’s hands.
There had been very few chances in the first half, with both defences on top.
Half time 0-0
Quakers started the second half with a cross from the left by Lennon which Jones held on to at his near post.
The Linnets came their closest yet on 52 minutes when former Darlington player Jack Lambert curled a free kick in from the left for Tai Fleming to head wide of the left hand post.
Quakers broke through on 57 minutes. Tom Platt found Hedley on the right, and he crossed to the far post where Rutledge headed firmly into the bottom right corner, his eighth goal of the season.
But Linnets levelled four minutes later, when former Darlington player Lambert volleyed home a right wing cross.
Quakers made a sub on 68 minutes, Tom Allan coming off to be replaced by Matty Cornish
However, Quakers nearly regained the lead when Platt found McGowan, who hit a right foot shot that the keeper touched over the bar.
But Linnets replied through Simone Troso, who cut in from the right and hit a low shot that Jameson saved.
Quakers tried to respond, and Howells tried a right foot shot from 30 yards that went wide
Paddy McLoughlin came off on 83 minutes and was replaced by Ellis Stanton.
Quakers were annoyed when Lennon broke through into the penalty area, but the ref brought play back to give Darlington a free kick, which came to nothing.
The home side piled forward in the closing minutes. Howells tried to set up Cornish six yards out, but a defender just managed to clear, then Scott Barrow struck a low left shot that came back off the left hand post.
Forbes then tried an acrobatic volley which the keeper just managed to touch over the bar, and right at the end Rutledge headed wide of the right hand post.
Final score Darlington 1 King's Lynn 1
Team: Jameson, Hedley, Forbes, Barrow, Howells, McLaughlin (sub Stanton 83), Platt, Lennon, McGowan, Rutledge, Allan (sub Cornish 68)
Subs: Barton, Griffiths, Mason
Team: Jones, Clements, Wilson, Clunan, Dickens, Fleming, Williams, Lambert, Crane, Troso, Sealey
Subs: Chapman, Collins, Oudnie, Van Liere, Wise
