FC United 3 Darlington 2

Rutledge 9 mins, 0-1, Gruwel 52 mins 1-1, WEston 72 mins, 1-2, Howells 79 mins 2-2, Lees og 90+8 3-2

A fluke own goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time put Quakers out of the FA Trophy.

They looked as if they were heading for a penalty shootout after Max Howells scored a late equaliser, but a rebound off Toby Lees put FC United through.

Quakers were well on top in the first half and deservedly led at half time, but then United improved in the second half and scored three times, helped by some poor defending.

Here are the goals: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0hQg1VxZ7c

and here are Steve's comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yez-I_O6ACY

FC United forced the first corner of the game in the first minute, but Aidan Rutledge headed the ball away at the near post.

Quakers broke up the left on 3 minutes, and a good low cross by Charlie Lennon found Ellis Stanton, whose effort was blocked by a defender, with Quakers appealing for handball.

Lennon then cleverly beat a defender, raced into the box, but the keeper just managed to push the ball out for a fruitless corner.

Quakers took the lead on 9 minutes. Lennon again cleverly created space for himself on the left, crossed right footed towards the far post, and in came Aidan Rutledge to head past the keeper, his fourth goal of the season.

Quakers nearly scored a second, this time Ellis Stanton opened up the FC United defence for Will McGowan to sidefoot home, but the assistant’s flag went up for offside.

Quakers stayed on top, and they were awarded a free kick on 23 minutes which Scott Barrow floated into the area for Toby Lees to head over the bar.

Again Quakers caused problems down the left, and Lennon played the ball inside for McGowan, who chipped the ball forward for Jack Maskell to head just over the crossbar.

There was another mazy run by Lennon up the left on 39 minutes in which he beat two defenders and set up Rutledge, who couldn’t get a shot on target.

FC United won a corner on the left on 43 minutes which was curled into the six yard box, but Daryll Ombang confidently fisted the ball away.

They won another just on half time from the right, but the ball went over everybody.

Quakers could reflect on a good first half, in which they'd enjoyed some good spells of possession

Half time: FC United 0 Darlington 1

Maskell created a half chance for Lennon at the start of the second half, but he was crowded out.

But in their next attack, Lennon from an acute angle tried to chip the keeper, who just managed to hold on to the ball.

FC United, who had now upped their tempo, nearly scored though on 49 minutes, with a right foot shot by Charlie Ennis that hit the inside of the right hand post and ran to safety.

They were level on 51 minutes when they broke away and the ball was played across the Darlington box for Ruben Grewal to fire past Daryll Ombang.

Quakers then made a sub, Ben Hedley coming on for Elliot Forbes, and on 58 minutes Max Howells came on for Tom Allan.

And United nearly took the lead on the hour when Jordan Buckley picked the ball up 25 yards out and hit a right foot shot that Ombang parried away.

Quakers made their third sub on 63 minutes, Tom Platt coming on for Stanton.

But Quakers responded with a great cross from the left by Lennon for Maskell to head just over the top.

On 69 minutes, Quakers had a half chance from a Rutledge long throw that Maskell played over his head to the back post where Ben Hedley’s header was held by Atherton

But Quakers went behind on 72 minutes, when a corner was played to the edge of the box for the unmarked Ajay Weston to place into the bottom right corner through a crowd of players.

Quakers then made their fourth sub on 78 minutes, Cedric Main, who has played for FC United in the past, coming on for Maskell.

But Quakers levelled on 79 minutes. A ball was chipped into the United box and the ball dropped for Max Howells, who hit the ball full on the volley over Atherton, a superb effort.

There was then a break in play for a medical emergency in the crowd.

In the first minute of 12 minutes of stoppage time, Ben Hedley picked up a clearance on the edge of the FC United box and fired left footed over the bar.

Then Howells controlled the ball well on the edge of the box and had a right foot shot deflected wide.

But United went back in front in the ninth minute of stoppage time, when Ombang and an FC United player went for the ball on the edge of the Darlington box, Ombang's clearance rebounded off Donoghue and then Toby Lees into the net.

Team: Ombang, Forbes (sub Hedley 53)Lees, Barrow, McLaughlin, Stanton (sub Platt 63), Allan (sub Hughes 58), McGowan, Lennon, Maskell (sub Main 78), Rutledge

Subs: Cornish