Darlington 2 Stamford 1

Adam Mitchell scored direct from a corner to give Quakers victory over stubborn Stamford, and put them back on top of the table.

Quakers went a goal down midway through the first half, but Kevin Burgess levelled before half time, then Mitchell scored direct from a corner for the winner in a tense second half.

But Stamford should have equalised in stoppage time, then Jake Newman managed to miss the target from three yards out. That miss could be the difference between the title and the play offs as far as Quakers are concerned.

Attention now turns to Tuesday night. If Quakers beat Grantham and Blyth lose to Rushall Olympic, then Quakers will be champions, regardless of how the results go in Quakers' last two games at Whitby and Rushall Olympic.

There was an early blow for Quakers when Phil Turnbull went off injured and was replaced by Paul Weldon, who went to left back and Terry Galbraith into midfield.

Quakers nearly conceded on 5 minutes when Chris Hunter played a short back pass to Peter Jameson that was snapped up by Jake Duffy, but Jameson came charging out with a good tackle and won the ball.

Stamford’s Jordan Smith was shown yellow for a foul on Kev Burgess as the skipper moved forwards.

There was a chance for Quakers on 23 minutes when Nathan Cartman won the ball on the right, played the ball back to Adam Mitchell, whose cross to the far post was headed wide by Graeme Armstrong.

Stamford had a half chance inside the area from a throw in that was put over by Duffy., but they took the lead on 26 minutes with a header by Sam Hill from a right wing corner.

Quakers had a loud penalty shout turned down when Weldon crossed from the left and Armstrong appeared to be kicked in the face as he went to head the ball.

Then Stamford’s Greg Smith was booked a foul on Brown. From Galbraith;s free kick, Challinor headed just wide of his own goal.

Quakers nearly levelled on 39 minutes when Thompson picked the ball up in midfield, ran on, and hi ta left foot shot from 25 yards that struck the base of the post.

Quakers then had a penalty shout turned down as a group of players went for a Galbraith corner at the near post

Even though Stamford pulled everyone back, Quakers levelled just on half time. Weldon crossed deep from the left, Bastock missed his punch, and Burgess charged in and put the ball into the roof of the net for his tenth goal of the season.

Half time 1-1.

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It was a quiet start to the second half, not as frantic as the end to the first, but the deadlock was nearly broken when Galbraith hit a terrific left foot shot from 25 yards that Bastock just managed to touch over.

Quakers took Cartman off on 60 minutes, and replaced him with Liam Hardy then lee Gaskell replaced Armstriong.

Gaskell’s first touch nearly resulted a in a goal, when he headed a deep cross by Weldon just over the top.

But Quakers nearly got caught on the break on 69 minutes when Hartley broke clear from isndie his own half, but pulled his shot wide.

Quaker took the lead on 71 minutes, Hardy won a corner on the left, Mitchell swung it in, and the ball went straight into the net!!!!

Thompson nearly got a third, when he moved in from the right and his right foot shot was deflected just wide, and then he was off target when Leon Scott laid the ball off for him twelve yards out.

Galbraith was just wide with a free kick from 30 yards after Challinor was booked for a body check on Hardy.

Lots of added time, Burgess has now suffered a head injury that needs bandaging.

Four minutes into added time, there was a huge scramble in the Darlington box which ended with Newman somehow and inexplicably heading over from three yards. Talk about a narrow escape!

Final score Darlington 2 Stamford 1

Next game: Grantham (home Tuesday)

Attendance 1,707

Darlington:

Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull (sub Weldon 4), Burgess, Brown, Mitchell, Scott, Armstrong (sub Gaskell 65), Cartman (sub Hardy 60), Thompson

Subs: Provett, White

Stamford:

Bastock, Hare, Luto, Challinor, Batchelor, Hill, Beeson, Hartley, G Smith, Duffy (sub Newman 68), J Smith

Subs: Downey, Wightwick, Rzonca

Bookings: J Smith (foul), G Smith (Foul) Duffy (timewasting), Challinor (foul)