Darlington 2 Southport 0

Main 6 mins, 1-0, Cornish 9 mins, 2-0

Attendance 1,778

We'd like to thank our match sponsors Hillerby Developments

http://hillerbydevelopmentsltd.co.uk/

and our matchball sponsors In Memory of Steve Raine

Quakers scored twice in the first nine minutes to earn three more crucial points against Southport.

Cedric Main and Matty Cornish were on target as Quakers used the blustery wind to their advantage.

But they still can't relax yet in terms of safety, and they'll need to beat Farsley next week as a minimum, and hope that sixth bottom Blyth Spartans, who are two points behind, slip up at Scunthorpe. Quakers are seventh from bottom, but that might change as fourth bottom Farsley are at Peterborough Sports on Tuesday, and fifth bottom Rushall are at home to Bishop's Stortford.

Nevertheless, this was Quakers 11th victory under Steve Watson and Terry Mitchell -- who would have expected that after the defeat against Bishops Stortford at Christmas?

Here's a post match interview with Terry:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/terry-we-coped-well-with-the-win

The game started with Quakers having the advantage of the blustery wind behind them, but it was clear that both sides would struggle to adapt to it.

Quakers shocked Southport by taking the lead on 6 minutes. Scott Barrow crossed from the left into the middle, Cedric Main chased the ball, turned, and then hit a low right foot shot across keeper Chris Renshaw into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Main nearly got another. He cut in from the left, beat a defender, and then struck  a right foot shot that was deflected behind for a corner.

It was 2-0  from the corner that followed. Cornish curled the ball in from the left, the wind blew the ball towards goal, and all the keeper could do was turn the ball into the roof of the net! His sixth goal of the season.

It was nearly 3-0 when Cameron Salkeld forced his way past two challenges to get into the box and set up Aidan Rutledge, whose left foot shot was pushed around the the post by Renshaw.

There was another chance on 21 minutes when Main found Salkeld on the right of the box, and he cut in and fired a low shot that went just wide of the left hand post.

It was all Quakers at this point, with Southport unable to make much of an impression.

The game was pretty quiet after that, with neither side creating much.

Southport showed for the first time on 38 minutes when Danny Lloyd found space 25 yards out and hit a left foot shot that struck the outside of the left hand post and went out for a goal kick.

Southport won their first corner on 40 minutes , but Danny Philliskirk fired over the top.

But just on half time, there was another chance for Quakers when Main’s trickery allowed him to set up Will Hatfield, whose left foot shot went just wide from just inside the area

Half time 

Darlington 2 Southport 0

Southport had the wind in their favour in the second half, and they started with a right wing cross that Jack Doyle headed well wide.

But against the wind Quakers created a good chance when Cornish found Barrow on the left, and he crossed to the far post where Main couldn’t quite guide his effort on target.

Rutledge claimed a penalty for a push in the back when he went for a Main cross on 53 minutes, but the ball ran over to the far side where Barrow fired into the side netting.

Quakers got a free kick on the right on 58 minutes, and there was a scramble on the six yard line following Cornish’s inswinger.

Ben Hedley nearly scored on 61 minutes, when he found space in the middle to strike a low shot that the keeper saved at the second attempt,

Quakers made their first change on 62 minutes, Andrew Nelson coming on for Rutledge.

Nelson was involved in an opportunity on 66 minutes when he laid off a Platt free kick for Salkeld to fire over the top from twelve yards. Even though Quakers were playing against the wind, they were still creating chances, with Southport not making much impression up front because of the quality of Darlington's defending.

Quakers made another change on 70 minutes, Jarrett Rivers coming on for Cornish.

Quakers kept playing at a high tempo and pushing Southport back, and Hatfield put a right foot shot over the top.

Southport got a free kick 25 yards out though, and Young tipped Lloyd’s free kick over the top to the loud cheers of the Tin Shed, who have taken the keeper to their hearts.

Quakers used up some time winning a corner on 83 minutes, which Rivers put over to the far post and Hatfield fired over the top.

Quakers kept their composure at the back and pressurising Southport into mistakes in midfield.

They won a free kick on the left on 86 minutes which Barrow floated over to the far post for Jake Lawlor to head wide.

Young earned another loud cheer from the Tin Shed when he held on to a deep left wing free kick near the end of the game.

Final score: Darlington 2 Southport 0

Team: Young, Hedley, Lees, Lawlor, Barrow, PLatt, Hatfield, Cornish (sub Rivers 70), Salkeld, Main, Rutledge (sub Nelson 62)

Subs: Griffiths, Liddle,  Curry