Darlington 3 Merthyr 1

Cox 31 mins, 0-1 Maskell 66 mins, 1-1, Rutledge 86 mins 2-1, Main 90 +4 mins 3-1

Attendance 1500

Thanks to our match sponsor -- Gavin Ellis

Thanks to our matchball sponsor -- Nathaniel Sutcliffe

Darlington came from behind to beat Merthyr with a superb display at Blackwell Meadows.

The points mean that Quakers are still unbeaten in 2026, and remain fifth in the table, level on points with Radcliffe and two points ahead of Scarborough.

The victory was also revenge for Quakers' defeat at Merthyr earlier in the season.

Quakers created plenty of chances in the first half but trailed at half time, but then Jack Maskell on his return to the starting line up and Aidan Rutledge hit back in the second half against the third placed club. Main scored a breakaway third in stoppage time after Merthyr pushed everyone forward for a corner.

Here are the goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y85_WRPinIM

Quakers had a chance in the opening minute, A crossfield pass by Kallum Griffiths was controlled by Tom Tweedy, and even though his first attempt at a cross was blocked, his second attempt at a shot went into the side netting.

Quakers had another chance in the third minute, when Ellis Stanton got the ball just outside the area and hit a left foot shot that the keeper pushed over the bar.

Quakers had another chance when another diagonal pass by Griffiths was helped on by Maskell for Tweedy to have an effort saved by Cogman. The inswinging corner wasn’t cleared by Merthyr, and Platt poked the ball over the bar.

But Merthyr broke away through Xavier-Jones into the box where he rounded Watson, but Griffiths appeared from nowhere to put in a goal saving tackle.

The deep crosses from Griffiths were giving Merthyr something to think about, another cross from the right found Jack Maskell, whose header was saved by Cogman.

A half chance came Quakers way when Tweedy’s cross was cleared by the Merthyr defence, and Paddy McLaughlin fired left footed over the bar.

But Merthyr took the lead on 31 minutes when the ball was played through the middle for Cawley Cox to run through and slip past Watson.

Quakers tried to hit back, and a free kick from the left by Stanton was blocked for a corner that came to nothing against a packed Merthyr defence,

Another diagonal cross by Griffiths caused a problem for Merthyr, and Cogman came off his line to punch away from Maskell.

And just on half time, McLaughlin found Main making a run behind the defence, but with Cagman coming out, he fired wide of the top left corner.

Half time 0-1

Merthyr had a chance at the start of the second half when Twamley fired across the face of goal but the ball went past the far post.

Quakers had a spell of pressure in which they forced a couple of corners, the first of which from Stanton, Cagman had to punch over his own crossbar

Quakers made their first sub on on 59 minutes, Forbes coming off for Scott Barrow.

Merthyr had an escape on the restart when a defender headed an inswinging corner towards his own goal, but it was cleared off the line, then when the ball came back in, Cagman fumbled the ball but Main couldn’t force the ball home.

And in Quakers next attack, Howells tried his luck with a left foot shot that went just wide.

It was nearly 2-0 though to the visitors on 65 minutes when Twamley headed a left wing cross wide of the post.

The game was now swinging end to end with both sets of players giving everything. Quakers responded with a good flighted cross by Tweedy that Main headed goalwards, but Cagman pulled off a flying save.

Quakers made their second sub on 66 minutes, Tom Allan coming on for Howells.

Quakers levelled when a right wing free kick by Griffiths was flicked on for Maskell to poke past the keeper.

Quakers, with their tails up, were nearly in front on 69 minutes when Maskell flicked the ball on for Main, whose right foot shot grazed the crossbar.

But Quakers had an escape when Lee Lucas curled the ball towards the top corner from the edge of the box and the ball hit the angle of post and crossbar and bounced back out.

Quakers put on two more subs, Aidan Rutledge and Ben Hedley coming on, and it was Rutledge who put Quakers in front on 86 minutes.

Allan picked the ball up and found Stanton, who ran at the defence and set up Rutledge, who beat the keeper with a left foot shot.

And it was nearly 3-1 when a low shot by Allan was deflected just wide.

Ad Quakers wrapped it up in the last minute when Merthyr pushed everyone up for a free kick, but Quakers cleared and Main ran more than half the length of the pitch to tap into an empty net

Final score: Darlington 3 Merthyr Town 1

Team: Watson, Griffiths (sub Hedley 77), Lees, Forbes (sub Forbes 59), Platt, McLaughlin, Howells (sub Allan 66), Tweedy (sub Scott 87), Stanton, Main, Maskell (sub Rutledge 74)

Subs: Hedley, Barrow, Allan, McGrath, Barton, Scott, Rutledge