Darlington 1 Spennymoor Town 0

Maskell 17 mins, 1-0

Attendance 1872

Jack Maskell’s first goal for the club won Quakers the points in their derby match at Blackwell Meadows.

Maskell scored with a peach of a header in the first half and after that Quakers defended well to hold on to the three points – although Spennymoor thought they had claim for at least one penalty.

Here's a post match interview from manager Steve Watson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4C4WcWB9LM

Spennymoor won the first corner after 3 minutes, but the ball was overhit and went out for a goal kick.

Andrew Nelson won the ball in the centre circle and worked his way out to the right, but his cross was held by Popple.

Then Ben Hedley picked the ball up on the right and floated the ball into the box, but Maskell couldn’t quite bring the ball under control ten yards out.

Moors won their second corner on 10 minutes, but again Quakers got the ball away without much difficulty.

Quakers had a breakaway chance on 16 minutes. Peter Jameson punched a corner away, and the ball was cleared to Andrew Nelson who ran the defence but lost control of the ball and Spennymoor conceded a corner.

Quakers scored from the corner, on 17 minutes, their first of the game. The ball was floated over by Matty Cornish for Maskell to come charging in and plant a header past the keeper.

Spennymoor tried to reply with a low free kick from 25 yards out by Reece Staunton which Jameson held at the near post.

Quakers got another corner on the right which Scott Barrow floated in and when the ball was half cleared, Will Hatfield’s low effort was saved by Popple.

There was a half chance when Nelson got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Maskell to lay the ball off for Cornish to to have a shot blocked.

Spennymoor went close when Isaac Fletcher broke down the left and crossed low into the middle, where Ramshaw just failed to get a touch.

And Moors shouted for a penalty when Ramshaw and Jameson collided as they went for a ball in the box, but the referee waved play on.

Jameson then pulled off a fingertip save when Ross pulled the ball back from the bye line for Glen Taylor to turn towards goal, but the keeper just managed to keep the ball out low down to his left.

Half time: Darlington 1 Spennymoor 0

At the start of the second half, Hedley whipped the ball into the near post, but Popple got to the ball before Maskell. At the other end, Jameson held on to an inswinging corner from the right.

Moors had a good break through Ramshaw but he lost control of the ball and Forbes dispossessed him.

Quakers brought on Jarrett Rivers for Nelson, while Spennymoor made two subs, one of them being former Darlington player Junior Mondal. Then Quakers brought Alex Payne on for Cornish.

Quakers had a chance on 76 minutes when Hedley’s cross from the left was headed away as far as Hatfield, whose low right foot shot was pushed away by Popple at full stretch.

Quakers got a penalty on 83 minutes when there was a scramble on the edge of the box, Hatfield tried to burst in and was brought down by Dyson,and  the ref pointed to the spot. However, Maskell’s penalty was saved by Popple low down to his left.

Rivers then floated the corner over for Maskell to volley over the top at the near post.

Moors then won a free kick on the right just outside the area, but Mondal floated the free kick over everybody for a goal kick.

Moors thought they’d got a penalty in the last minute when Fletcher went down in the area after bursting into the area and taking on the Darlington defence, but the ref booked him for simulation.

In stoppage time, Scott Barrow just managed to scramble the ball of the line to save the three points

Team: Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Flint, Hatfield, Cornish (sub Payne 75)Nelson (sub Rivers 61), Salkeld, Maskell.

Subs: McGrath, Andoh, Taylor.

Bookings: Barrow, Flint

Spennymoor: Popple, Staunton, Ross, Rowe, Fletcher, Dyson, Howard, Bartley, McKeown, Ramshaw, Taylor

Subs: Harris, Mondal, Myers, Siziba, Ledger