Darlington 1 Macclesfield 2

Thanks to our match sponsors Darlington FC Foundation, and matchball sponsors NxtGen coaching.

Goals: Stephenson 16 mins 1-0, Elliott 56 mins, 1-1 75 mins 1-2

Two goals from Macclesfield sub Danny Elliott helped Macclesfield come back from a goal down to beat Quakers.

The home side led with a goal by Dylan Stephenson and were good value for their half time lead, but Elliott opened Quakers up after the break.

Macc won the first corner on 5 minutes. The ball was curled in from the left by Luke Duffy and Bobby Jones managed to palm the ball away under pressure, then in Macc’s next attack, the ball was crossed from the right for Kai George to volley over the bar.

Quakers nearly sneaked in on 10 minutes when Tom Henson almost put Amaru Smith clear in the box, but Christian Dibble came off his line and saved at his feet.

Macc won another corner on 12 minutes, and Jones again fisted the ball away, and was quick to react when the ball came back into his six yard box by holding on under pressure..

Quakers broke through on 16 minutes. Toby Lees played the ball straight through the middle, and as the Macc defence hesitated and Dibble came off his line, Dylan Stephenson nipped in and sidefooted the ball into the empty net.

Macc responded by forcing two corners in a minute, the second of which Jones confidently punched away again, then Ben Hedley, playing at right back, got a good sliding challenge in just inside the area.

Quakers had a let off on 29 minutes when Wilson got around the back of the defence and played the ball back for Ammar Dyer, whose attempted chip landed on the roof of the net.

Quakers nearly broke through at the other end thanks to Henson’s persistence, but Beck was flagged offside.

On 35 minutes, Hedley cleverly beat one man on the right and crossed into the near post where Henson put a twisting header over the bar.

Despite having Ellis Stanton booked, Quakers kept control and were looking good value until half time.

Half time: Darlington 1 Macclesfield 0

Quakers made a sub at half time, Ethan Fitzhugh replacing Amaru Smith

Macc started the second half with a right foot shot by Fin Shrimpton which went just over the bar, then sub Dan Elliott set up George who sidefooted well over.

But Macc levelled on 56 minutes, when the ball was played through for Elliott to pick his spot left footed from just inside the area.

In reply, Quakers won a free kick on the edge of the area for a foul on Beck, but Brad Walker curled the ball over the top.

From the goal kick, Elliott broke up the right for Macc, but George’s shot was deflected into Jones’ hands.

Quakers nearly went back in front on 68 minutes. Stanton made a good run forward and laid the ball off to his right for Fitzhugh, who put the ball on his left and struck an effort that beat Dibble, hit the inside of the post and ran along the goal line before a defender cleared.

Fitzhugh was involved again on 73 minutes, this time curling a free kick in from the right for Toby Lees to head wide.

But Macc broke away, and went 2-1 up on 75 minutes when Dyer got away down the right, and he fired the ball across the six yard box for Elliott to put into the roof of the net.

Quakers made two subs, with Ciaran Thompson and Aidan Rutledge coming on, and Pye and Stephenson coming off, but Macc nearly got a third when Elliott broke away and set up George, who hit the post from eight yards.

Quakers threw everybody forward, and they appealed for a penalty for a foul on Fitzhugh, but nothing was doing from the ref, then sub Aidan Rutledge had a header saved by Dibble.

And in the last minute, Hedley's left foot shot was touched around the post by Dibble, but the referee gave a goal kick.

In stoppage time, Quakers appealed for a penalty when Stanton's shot was blocked, but again the referee waved play on.

And in the dying seconds, Jones went up for two corners, but to no avail.

Final score: Darlington 1 Macclesfield 2

Team: Jones, Hedley, Lees, Walker, Pye (sub Thompson 73), Stanton, McLaughlin, Smith (sub Fitzhugh 46), Stephenson (sub Rutledge 80), Henson (sub Bryant 87), Beck

Subs: Mason, Wilkinson,  Hetherington,

Booking: Stanton 44 mins