Quakers denied victory by late goal
By Ray Simpson
Looking for back-to-back home wins
Darlington 1 Warrington 1
Goal: Rivers 15 mins, 1-0, Woods 90 mins 1-1
Attendance 1021
Quakers were on the brink of three valuable points at Blackwell Meadows -- but Warrington scored a last minute equaliser.
Quakers dominated the game after taking a 15th minute lead, but couldn't score a second goal to make sure of the points.
And that inability came back to haunt them right at the end when Warrington equalised.
Here are the reactions of assistant manager Danny Rose and Toby Lees, plus the goals
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-to-warrington-draw
Quakers had the game’s opening chance when Ben Hedley played the ball forward to Cameron Salkeld who turned quickly on the edge of the area and put a left foot shot over the top.
Hedley then found Hatfield 18 yards out, and his left foot effort was held by Atherton.
Quakers won possession inside the Warrington last third, and between them Salkeld and Hatfield set up Griffiths, whose shot was deflected wide.
But Warrington replied when Bohan Dixon picked the ball up on the left, held off two challenges and struck a right foot shot that grazed the crossbar.
Quakers took a deserved lead on 15 minutes. The ball was played out to the right for Griffiths, who played a good cross into the near post for Jarrett Rivers to beat the keeper with a stooping header for his first goal of the season.
Warrington tried to hit back, and a long ball forward found Connor Woods, whose low shot was blocked by Taylor at his near post.
Quakers put the Warrington back four under pressure on 27 minutes and when Atherton hesitated, Salkeld dispossessed him but from a very tight angle, he struck the post.
When Quakers were forced on the defensive, they put in some good tackles, one in particular by Moke on Dixon 25 yards out, and then Jassem Sukar, on his return to the side stopped Woods with a good challenge a few yards out.
Half time 1-0
Quakers had a penalty shout on 47 minutes when Griffiths found Hatfield down the right and Hatfield’s low cross struck a defender and Quakers appealed for handball, but the referee waved play on.
They had a chance when Hedley crossed deep from the left to the far side of the six yard box where Hatfield volleyed wide.
And there was another opportunity when Lees found Hatfield on the left, and he rolled the ball into the six yard box where Salkeld just failed to get a touch.
It was nearly 2-0 on 60 minutes when Hatfield and Hedley combined well to allow Rivers to run into the box and hit a right foot shot that Atherton just managed to touch around the post.
Hatfield then found Rivers in the box, but after taking a touch, Atherton managed to take the ball off his toes.
Akwasi Asante came on as sub for Moke on 68 minutes, and his first involvement was to wrongfoot two defenders and roll the ball through for Rivers, who seemed to be pushed and lost possession.
Warrington broke up the left on 72 minutes and Taylor had to touch a left wing cross away from two attackers.
The visitors wasted a good chance on 77 minutes when a left wing free kick to the far post fell for Isaac Buckley-Ricketts, who fired over from a good position.
Salkeld made a good powerful run into the box from right and tried to play a 1-2 with Rivers, but he couldn’t control the return.
But Warrington levelled in the last minute when Taylor punched away an inswinging corner, and the ball was volleyed in by Woods from the edge of the area.
And the visitors nearly won it with a header that Taylor just managed to tip over the bar.
Full time 1-1
Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Sukar, Lees, Hedley, Platt, Lindley, Hatfield, Moke (sub Asante 68 mins), Rivers, Salkeld
Subs: Rowe, Winfield, Harker
Booking: Platt
Warrington
Atherton, Walker, Hannigan, Woods, Williams, Amis, Dixon, Buckley-Ricketts, Duggan, Wisdon, Grivosti
Subs: Goudie, White, Key, Gill, Bennett
We'd like to thank our match sponsors, Kick It Out
and our matchball sponsors, the Darl Knight
