Darlington 1 South Shields 2

Wheeldon 3 mins, 0-1, Blackett 67 mins 0-2, Main 90+8 1-2

Attendance 1850

We'd like to thank EBAC for being our match sponsors tonight

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Darlington suffered only their third home league defeat of the season when they were beaten at home by league leaders South Shields.

The visitors took a third minute lead, but Quakers had some good possession but couldn't take their chances and Shields scored a second midway through the second half. Cedric Main scored rght at the end, and Quakers didn't have enough time to find an equaliser.

Here are Steve's thoughts on the game;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSiwsVptzq0

and here are the goals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3clJPZgUvE

Shields took the lead after just three minutes. A deep cross from the left by Oli Bainbridge to the far post was nodded back by former Darlington full back Danny Dodds for Lennon Wheeldon to beat Pete Jameson from ten yards.

Quakers tried to reply with a run up the left by Charlie Lennon, but he was stopped by a tackle just outside the box.

They were then awarded a free kick in a central position 30 yards out, but Scott Barrow’s left footed free kick came back off the wall, and his right footed follow up was deflected wide by Cedric Main.

Shields were awarded a free kick on 13 minutes at  about the same range, but Sean McGurk’s effort was easily headed away.

Quakers threatened when Main played a 1-2 with McGowan outside the area, but couldn’t quite get a shot in.    

They kept going, and when they got another free kick 30 yards out, McGowan played the ball short to Scott Barrow, who seemed to be fully fit again after taking an early knock, to hit a left foot shot over the bar.                    

They nearly levelled when Tom Platt intercepted when Shields were playing out from the back, and he found Lennon who in turn set up Main to try and chip the keeper, but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Shields won a free kick for a foul outside the area, but Paul Blackett curled the ball wide.

Quakers had another chance when they won possession and Lennon found McGowan, whose low shot was cleared from almost off the line. From the corner that followed by Lennon, Toby Lees glanced the ball wide.

Shields though nearly got a second when McGurk broke through the middle and set up Dodds, whose shot was blocked by Jameson

Half time: Darlington 0 South Shields 1

Quakers started the second half in determined fashion, and Lennon put in two threatening crosses from the left, the second of which landed on the roof of the net.

Quakers had a penalty shout when Ben Hedley crossed from the right and Main went down claiming that he was pushed, but the referee waved play on.

But Shields nearly caught Quakers with a quick throw out by keeper Tom Watson, and the ball was played on Wheeldon to go one on one against Jameson, but his shot skimmed the crossbar.

Quakers had a half chance when Paddy McLaughlin found Main with a good through ball, but the striker was crowded out.

Barrow tested Watson with a deep free kick into the box, but the keeper held on well under pressure.

Shields looked dangerous on the break on 63 minutes when McGurk found Dodds on the right, and his low cross took a deflection and was held by Jameson at his near post.

Quakers had a chance on 65 minutes when Barrow’s long throw was laid back by Elliot Forbes for McGowan to put in a left foot shot that a defender hooked away on the six yard line.

But Shields went further ahead on 67 minutes when McGurk found Blackett, who was given enough room to put in a right foot shot that struck a defender and looped into the net

Quakers had another penalty shout on 72 minutes when Lennon’s left wing cross seemed to be blocked by a defender’s arm, but the referee waved play on.

 Quakers kept going, and Forbes headed into Watson’s hands from McGowan’s cross, and sub Tom Allan had a free kick deflected wide.

Quakers raised hopes in the seventh minute of stoppage time when Main glanced in a Lennon cross, but they didn't have time to force an equaliser

Final score: Darlington 1 South Shields 2

Team: Jameson, Hedley (sub Allan 70), Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Platt (sub Stanton 82), McGowan, McLaughlin, Lennon, Howells, Main

sub: Cornish, Scott, Barton, Griffiths, Mason

South Shields: Watson, Tinkler, Bainbridge, Sykes, McGurk, Blackett, Jenkins, Mann, Wheeldon, Alcock, Dodds

Subs: Ward, Scott, Gordon, Blaney, Wright, Sloan