Darlington 3 Spennymoor 0

Attendance 1701

Stephenson (2 mins 1-0, 58 mins pen 2-0, 70 mins 3-0)

A superb hat trick by Dylan Stephenson gave Quakers their first home win of the season, and ended a run of ten home games without a win, going back to March.

Stephenson set the tone of the game when he scored after just 74 seconds, then firmly despatched a penalty for the second after half time. When he completed his hat trick, it was the first hat trick by a Darlington player since February 2023.

Playing against the breeze and the rain, Quakers got the goal they wanted after just 74 seconds. The Spennymoor defence failed to deal with a high ball forward, Jacob Hazel seized upon it and squared the ball for Dylan Stephenson to beat Spennymoor keeper Matt Urwin with a left foot shot.

Quakers created another chance on 11 minutes, when Ethan Fitzhugh crossed from the left for Stephenson to head over the bar.

Quakers got the first corner on 15 minutes, but Matt Urwin punched Jonah Lowes’ inswinger away.

They nearly got a second on 21 minutes when Stephenson played the ball through for Fitzhugh, who just had Urwin to beat, but the keeper blocked his shot.

After Nathan Atkinson had a shot blocked, Quakers won a free kick on the right on 24 minutes , but Paddy McLaughlin’s free kick was held by Urwin.

Spennymoor’s first effort was a right foot shot by Logan Pye, who was with Quakers at the start of the season, but his effort went wide.

There was another chance for Darlo on 25 minutes when Fitzhugh got away down the left and put a good cross into the middle, but Stephenson sidefooted over the top.

Jonah Lowes put a right foot shot over the bar from 20 yards after a free kick was cleared out to him, before Moors put on Junior Mondal for the injured Pye.

Spennymoor responded with a good cross from the left by Holcroft went over the top of the Darlington defence, but Taylor failed to control the ball just a few yards out.

Moors had to make a second sub when Jack Jenkins went off with an arm injury, so Ben Pollock replaced him.

When play resumed, the ball dropped for Aidan Rutledge in the box, but he fired into the side netting from a tight angle.

Moors won a free kick on the right on 55 minutes but Jones punched the ball away and started a counter attack down the left through Stephenson. He tried to play the ball across to Fitzhugh, but a defender handled. The referee pointed to the spot, and Stephenson blasted the ball into the top left corner for his second goal of the game.

Half time: Darlington 1 Spennymoor 0

Quakers had a penalty shout turned down soon after the restart when Fitzhugh found McLaughlin with a pull back and he went down under a challenge, but the referee waved play on.

Moors won a free kick on the right on 55 minutes but Jones punched the ball away and started a counter attack down the left through Stephenson. He tried to play the ball across to Fitzhugh, but a defender handled. The referee pointed to the spot, and Stephenson blasted the ball into the top left corner for his second goal of the game.

They nearly got a third when Lowes broke into the box on the right, but his effort was deflected wide.

Quakers made a sub on 68 minutes, Rutledge coming off for Tom Platt.

Quakers went 3-0 up on 70 minutes when Hazel split the Moors defence for Stephenson to run through and sidefoot past Urwin to complete his hat trick -- the first Darlington player to do so since February 2023.

Quakers made their second sub on 75 minutes. Jacob Render coming on for Fitzhugh.

They nearly scored a fourth when Hazel barged into the box, and fired across the face of goal, then another move saw Max Kilsby fire past the post.

There was a big cheer when Will Hatfield came on for the last ten minutes in place of Lowes, and Quakers stayed well in control until the final whistle.

Hatfield tried his luck with a 25 yarder on 88 minutes, but the ball went over the top.

On the final whistle, the players and management team were given a huge ovation by the fans.

Final score: Darlington 3 Spennymoor 0

Team: Jones, Bell, Lees, Kilsby, Atkinson (sub Thompson 87), McLoughlin, Lowes (sub Hatfield 81), Stephenson, Fitzhugh (sub Render 75), Rutledge (sub Platt 68) Hazel (sub Beck 86)

Subs: Thompson, Stanton, Henson

Booking: Hazel (65 mins) Lowes 67 mins