Superb volley by Will gives Quakers victory
By Ray Simpson
First win of the season
Darlington 1 Leamington 0
Goal: Hatfield 31 mins, 1-0
Attendance 1382
We'd like to thank Darlington Die Cast Models for being our matchball sponsors
https://www.darlingtondiecast.co.uk/
A superb volley by Will Hatfield earned Quakers their first victory of the season, and also their first ever win over Leamington at Blackwell Meadows.
Neither side made an impact until the 8th minute, when Will Hatfield found skipper Scott Barrow on the left, and he crossed over to the far post where Ben Hedley, making his return to the side, came in on the blind side but fired over the top.
Leamington’s first weapon was a long throw by Rob Evans in front of the dugouts, but Quakers were ready and got the ball away.
They had a chance on 15 minutes when Callum Stewart cut in from the left and struck a low shot that Pete Jameson easily saved.
Quakers nearly scored on 17 minutes when Thompson found Barrow on the left, and the full back returned the ball to Thompson who turned in the area and tried a right foot shot that Hawkins saved at full stretch.
They had a half chance on 21 minutes when Ben Hedley’s free kick from the left was only partly cleared by the Leamington defence and Matty Cornish threw himself at the ball, but could only deflect it wide.
Quakers took the lead on 31 minutes. Scott Barrow cut in from the left and had a shot blocked, the ball looped high in the air for Cornish to head across the area for Hatfield to acrobatically volley the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net, his second goal of the season.-- here it is
Leamington had a penalty shout turned down on 39 minutes when Stewart ran into the area and went down when he was challenged by Elliot Forbes, but the referee waved play on.
Quakers won a corner on 41 minutes on the left, but it ended with a foul by Maskell in the area.
They nearly nicked a second just on half time when Rivers got to the bye line, and crossed into the six yard box where Maskell was inched away from connecting.
Half time: 1-0
Quakers kept the momentum going and nearly scored on 49 minutes. Will Flint found Rivers on the right, and he crossed deep to the far post where Maskell, under pressure, headed down and into the side netting.
He had a better chance on 50 minutes when Rivers again beat his full back, crossed into the middle, but Maskell headed just over the top.
There was another chance on 54 minutes when Thompson picked up a pass from Cornish, ran at the defence, and forced Hawkins into a good save.
They were unlucky on 63 minutes. Maskell played Rivers into the box, Rivers went down but the ball came out for Thompson, who fired just over the bar.
Another chance came along from a corner on 64 minutes. The ball was cleared as far as Hatfield, who floated the ball back in for Forbes to put a diving header just over the bar.
Quakers stayed resolute at the back and in control, and they nearly went 2-0 up on 82 minutes. Maskell found sub Cameron Salkeld breaking down the right, his cross was cleared as far as Thompson, whose clever chip went over the keeper but landed on the roof of the net.
There was an off the ball incident on 87 minutes which ended with Hatfield getting booked after the referee had consulted the fourth official and assistant.
Leamington threw men forward, and sub Tim Berridge had a low shot saved.
In stoppage time, Salkeld broke away on the right, and had a shot blocked by the keeper and put the rebound over the bar.
Full time Darlington 1 Leamington 0
Team: Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Hatfield, Flint, Cornish (sub Salkeld 74) , Rivers, Maskell, Thompson (sub Payne 84)
Subs: Andoh, McGrath, Taylor
