This afternoon's game is sponsored by Tempest Jones

https://tempestjones.com/

Darlington 2 Scarborough Athletic 3

Goal: Hazel 15 mins, 1-0, Glynn 37 mins, 1-1, Tear 42 mins, 1-2, Beck 68 mins, 2-2 , Coulson 87 mins 2-3

Attendance 3059 -- ground record

Darlington were beaten by a late goal against Scarborough in front of a record crowd at Blackwell Meadows, but they still remain top of the league going into the New Year.

Quakers took the lead through Jacob Hazel, but then conceded conceded two poor goals to let their visitors back into the game.

Mark Beck levelled in the second half, but then Quakers defence let them down again, and the Seadogs scored a late winner.

Manager Alun Armstrong admitted that it wasn't the best of days in defence -- you can watch his post match interview here:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-to-boxing-day-defeat-from-alun

Here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-boxing-day-clash-available-now

Scarborough won the first corner on 5 minutes in front of the Tin Shed, but keeper Tommy Taylor, once of Scarborough, fisted the inswinger away from danger.

Quakers replied with a good ball inside by Jacob Hazel for Jack Lambert to run forward and have a shot blocked.

When Danny Greenfield found some space outside the Darlington area, Danny Dodds produced a good block.

Quakers went close on 13 minutes.  Mark Beck was fouled about 25 yards out, and Jack Lambert curled the free kick into the box for Beck to put a diving header just wide of the left hand post.

Quakers took the lead on 15 minutes. Adriano Moke ran 30 yards with the ball and found Felix on his right inside the area, Felix fired towards goal, the ball took a slight deflection and ran for Hazel to turn home, his 10^th of the season.

There was a chance for a second when Felix, with the ball on the touchline, pulled the ball back into the middle for Hazel to fire over on the turn.

At the other end, Jassem Sukar made a good tackle to stop Greenfield from breaking through.

Quakers put a patient move together with Beck just being unable to control a good pass from Sukar.

Good play by Felix gave Dodds the chance to cross from the right, and his low cross was put out for a corner. Quakers worked the corner short, and Lambert’s effort was saved at the near post.

But Scarborough levelled on 37 minutes when Jake Lawlor lost possession to Kieran Glynn, who ran through and beat Taylor with a low shot into the bottom corner.

Quakers nearly went back in front when Lambert picked the ball up on the left, wrongfooted a defender, and fired across the face of goal.

But Scarborough went in front on 43minutes when Kieran Weledji found space on the right and pulled the ball back into the middle for Dom Tear to sidefoot past Taylor from six yards.

Half time 1-2

Scarborough started the second half with a 25 yarder by Lewis Maloney that Taylor saved at full stretch.

Quakers missed a great chance when Beck beat Scarborough keeper Cracknell to a headed back pass, and he pulled the ball back from the right for Felix, who blazed over.

They went agonisingly close on 61 minutes when Hazel laid the ball back on the edge of the box for Alex Purver, whose right foot shot flashed just wide of the left hand post.

Then Dodds forced the ball through for Felix to hit a right foot shot that Cracknell pushed round the post.

Another chance came along when Becks laid off Purver’s pass for Lambert to fire just wide.

Quakers deservedly levelled on 68 minutes. Hedley found Lambert on the left, and he beat a man before crossing perfectly to the far post for Beck to beat Cracknell with a diving header, his 16th of the season.

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty when Beck seemed to be pushed as he went for a free kick, but the referee waved play on.

They went close again on 79 minutes when Lambert found Hedley on the overlap to the left, and the full back’s low shot was fumbled by the keeper, only for Hedley to put his follow up behind under pressure.

Lambert figured again on 83 minutes when he played a 1-2 with Hedley, and he forced Cracknell into a good save at his near post.

But Scarborough went 3-2 up when Michael Coulson wriggled free in the Darlington area to pick up a through ball and squeezed the ball in past Taylor.

Quakers piled on the pressure in the closing minutes, and Cracknell saved a header from Purver, then Hazel had a free kick blocked by the defensive wall.

Team: Taylor, Dodds, Sukar, Lawlor, Hedley, Moke, Purver, Lambert, Beck, Hazel, Felix

Subs: Rose, Mondal, Liddle, Rivers, Griffiths

Bookings: Dodds 27, Sukar 69, Liddle 77

Scarborough: Cracknell, Weledji, Maloney, Thornton, Goods, Coulson (sub Watson 90+3), Glynn, Colville, Burton, Tear, (sub Jackson 73 mins) Greenfield (sub McGuckin 67)

Subs:  Heslop, Wiles, 

Bookings ; Coulson 75, Tear 44