Darlington 1 Scarborough 2

Goal: Bennett 75 mins, 0-1, Weledji 78 mins, 0g 1-1 , Thornton 90+4 1-2

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Darlington were beaten by a last gasp header against Scarborough.

It looked for so long that Quakers would hold on for a draw after the heroic Liam Mason had to take over in goal when Rory Watson went off injured, but the visitors scored a last minute winner.

Here are the goals:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huVYuASK7R8

and here are Steve's thoughts

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/steve-we-need-to-win-three-of-our-last-four-matches

Kicking into the wind, Quakers forced the first corner after three minutes, but after a stoppage for Elliot Forbes to get treatment, Scarborough got the ball away.

Tom Tweedy whipped a cross in from the left on 6 minutes, but Ryan Whitley gathered the ball at the near post.

Quakers had their first chance on 12 minutes. Cedric Main found Max Howells on the right, and he chipped the ball to the far post where Tweedy controlled it, but fired wide.

But Scarborough were awarded a penalty on 17 minutes when Alex Brown broke into the box on the left and the referee decided that Watson brought him down and awarded a penalty. Watson went off injured, and had to be replaced by 19 year old Liam Mason, who was making his debut.

To huge cheers, Mason guessed the penalty correctly from Walker, and saved down to his left. What a moment!

Quakers concentrated hard against the wind, and to protect their keeper.

Scarborough had another chance on 29 minutes when a long throw was helped on to the far post where Alex Purver, under pressure from the advancing Mason, fired over.

Quakers had their own penalty shout on 32 minutes when Tweedy threaded the ball through for Main, who seemed to be pushed to the ground by Jake Hull as he tried to latch on to the ball, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 37 minutes when Tweedy found McLaughlin, and his low shot was well saved by Whitley, and then the wind caused havoc with a cross by Howells and the ball bounced over a defender in the six yard area, but nobody could take advantage.

HT 0-0

Quakers went close at the start of the second half when McGowan floated a free kick to the far post, where the ball seemed to glance off a defender and go just wide, but the referee awarded a goal kick.

Quakers won a corner thanks to a deflected shot from Aidan Rutledge, but the referee pulled Toby Lees up for a foul.

Mason made a great save on 54 minutes, when a long throw was helped on for Kieran Weledji to fire towards the bottom right corner, but Mason pushed the ball around the post.

With the wind behind them, Quakers won a corner on the right on 58 minutes which was curled into the area by McGowan, but Rutledge couldn’t direct his header on target.

Jack Maskell came on for Aidan Rutledge on 64 minutes.

There was more controversy on 66 minutes. Maskell helped a long clearance on for Tweedy to chase, and after he took a touch he seemed to be brought down by Whitley, but the referee waved play on.

They got a free kick outside the area on 74 minutes for a foul on Maskell, but Whitley saved McGowan’s setpiece.

But Scarborough took the lead on 75 minutes. A free kick was whipped in from the left, for Richie Bennett to stab home at the far post.

However, Quakers were level within two minutes. Kieran Weledji was deceived by the flight of the ball from a Tom Allan corner, and headed the ball into his own net.

Quakers went looking for a winner, and Allan was inches wide with a right foot shot, then Tweedy had a point blank effort saved.

But right at the end, a corner came over from the right and Thornton headed home,

Full time 1-2

Watson, Barrow, Lees, Forbes, Howells, Platt, McLaughlin, McGowan, Tweedy, Main, Rutledge.

Subs: Hedley, Maskell, Allan, Barton, Griffiths, Mason