Darlington 0 Merthyr 1

Cox 31 mins, 0-1

Thanks to our match sponsor -- Gavin Ellis

Thanks to our matchball sponsor -- Nathaniel Sutcliffe

Quakers had a chance in the opening minute, A crossfield pass by 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.

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 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

Team: Watson, Griffiths, Lees, Forbes, Platt, McLaughlin, Howells, Tweedy, Stanton, Main, Maskell

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