Early goals put Quakers in control

By Ray Simpson

Feb 6, 2021

Quakers through to Trophy quarter final

Darlington 4 Wealdstone 1

Own goal 3 mins 1-0, Rivers 13 mins 2-0 Emmanuel pen 41 2-1, Charman 63 mins 3-1, Sousa 90+3 mins 4-1

Quakers are through to the quarter finals of the Buildbase FA Trophy for the third time in the club's history courtesy of a deserved win over Wealdstone from the National League.

They created plenty of chances with some great football and got off to a superb start with two goals in the first 15 minutes, but victory has come at a price, with striker Luke Charman, who scored an excellent 30 yarder for the third goal, stretchered off after lengthy treatment for a knee injury.

We will be ball number three in the draw on Monday, which is on Talksport 2 at 1pm.

It also means that the league game at Bradford PA on 27th February will now be postponed.

Quakers have now won over £100,000 in prize money this season in FA Cup and FA Trophy.

Quakers took the lead after 3 minutes. A neat flick by Luke Charman put Will Hatfield free in the box, and he drove the ball low into the six yard area where the ball went into the net off a defender.

Will Hatfield's low cross is turned into his net by a defender

Quakers had a good spell of pressure, and nearly went 2-0 up on 12 minutes when Charman got around the back of the defence and found Rivers, who drove the ball across the face of goal without anyone getting a touch.

But the second goal did come along after 13 minutes. Erico Sousa cut into the box from the left, played the ball inside for Charman who cleverly flicked it on for Jarrett Rivers to fire left footed into the top corner.

Quakers nearly got the third on 20 minutes. Rivers, whom Wealdstne were struggling to contain, again got away down the right and pulled the ball back into the middle, where Charman and then Sousa both had shots charged down.

Quakers had to make a sub on 22 minutes when Ben Hedley replaced Tony McMahon who had a hamstring injury, and from the restart, Sousa crossed the ball into the box where Charman with an overhead kick, put the ball over the bar.

Wealdstone nearly pulled a goal back wit ha right foot shot by Daniel Green from the edge of the area, but Jonny Saltmer got down well to save.

Again, Quakers had a chance on 36 minutes. Charman found Rivers on the right, the winger beat his man and crossed into the middle where Dan Maguire’s header was saved under the bar by keeper Isted.

The referee then awarded Wealdstone a penalty on 42 minutes when he ruled that Nicky Hunt had handled just inside the area from a left wing cross -- although Quakers claimed the ball hit the defender on the upper arm -- and Moses Emmanuel drove in the spot kick after Quakers' strong protests had died down, although Saltmer got his foot to the ball.

Wealdstone pull one back from the spot through Moses Emmanuel

Quakers thought they should have a had penalty at the other end when Hatfield seemed to be tripped as he chased a free kick and then there was a handball claim in the scramble that followed, but the referee waved play on.

Half time 2-1

Whoever wins today, will be ball number 3 in Monday's draw (1pm on Talksport 2)

Here's our half time advert roll

The first chance of the second half fell to Quakers. Sousa crossed from the left to the edge of the box where Charman got past two defenders and fired just over.

But Wealdstone broke up the other end, and Storey pulled off a great tackle on Efete inside the area to prevent a goal.

Maguire then released Charman up the left, and the striker cut into the box and fired right footed into the side netting.

Another break down the right by Charman saw his pull back into the middle cleared by a defender as far as Maguire, whose follow up shot was deflected over the top.

Quakers got their reward on 63 minutes. Rivers made a good run down the right, and played the ball inside for Charman 30 yards out. He had time to control the ball and hit a right foot shot into the bottom right hand corner with the keeper helpless, his 6^th goal of the season.

Luke's low shot goes into the bottom corner

Maguire limped off on 69 minutes with a hamstring problem and was replaced by Omar Holness, then two minutes later Charman went down after a 50/50 tackle with a knee injury and needed lengthy treatment before being stretchered off. That incident led to 15 minutes of injury time.

Luke injury Update: https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/luke-charman-injury-update

Wealdstone, trying to capitalise on Quakers' upset, screamed for a penalty when one of their players went down as a right wing free kick came into the box, but the referee awarded a goal kick instead as he was surrounded by Wealdstone players.

It was 4-1 on 90+3 minutes when Sousa cut in from the left, moved the ball on to his right foot and smashed the ball across the keeper into the top corner.