Jonny gives Quakers the points

By Ray Simpson

Dec 16, 2023

Big win at the bottom for Quakers

Gloucester City 0 Darlington 1

Ngandu (9 mins, 0-1)

Attendance 891

A superb goal by Jonny Ngandu gave Quakers the points at the Tigerturf Stadium.

Quakers produced a very professional performance to see off the home side, with some very good individual displays throughout.

And Quakers also responded well to the loss of two players because of a virus during the week, to go on top of the four injured players and suspended players.

Here's the reaction from Josh Gowling and Jonny Ngandu

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/post-match-reaction-from-win-at-gloucester

Quakers got a free kick on the halfway line on 2 minutes, but Ben Hedley’s ball towards the box was headed away.

Gloucester broke after winning possession in midfield, and Elliott Durrell picked the ball up on the left, moved inside, and hit a right foot shot that went just past the post.

Tommy Taylor came quickly off his line to hold a left wing cross in Gloucester’s next attack.

Blaine Rowe made a good run down the right on 5 minutes, but Jeacock came off his line and claimed the cross.

Quakers took the lead after 9 minutes, Adriano Moke controlled Ben Hedley’s throw in on the left and found Jonny Ngandu, who turned his marker in the box, looked up, and curled a right foot shot over the keeper into the net, his second goal for the club.

Gloucester had a half chance to level, when a cross came in from the left for Harry Emmett to head wide from twelve yards out.

It was nearly 2-0 on 22 minutes with some brilliant play. Ngandu instantly controlled a long ball from Lawlor, turned, ran at the Gloucester defence, and curled a right foot shot that went inches wide of the post.

Gloucester won a corner on the right on 29 minutes. Quakers got the ball away as far as Jamie Reckford 30 yards out, and the left back hit a right foot shot towards the top corner that Taylor, at full stretch just managed to push over the bar.

Akwasi Asante, who was holding the ball well up front, won a free kick 30 yards out on 35 minutes. Hedley floated the ball into the box, but just too far ahead of his team mates at the far post

Gloucester’s Ram was then booked for a foul on Asante as the striker beat him on the halfway line.

Rowe was also booked for a foul on Pinchard.

Quakers had a chance on half time when Hedley found Asante in the box, and he played the ball on for Ngandu to have a shot blocked for a corner. Hedley drove the corner over to the far post where Toby Lees, coming in, volleyed just wide.

Another chance came along when Asante laid the ball off for Ngandu to fire just over the top.

The first half had gone well for Quakers.

Half time Gloucester 0 Darlington 1

Gloucester tried unsuccessfully to put the Darlington defence under pressure at the start of the second half, and decided to make a sub on 51 minutes, taking off Durrell and putting on Danny Wright.

There was a good move between Hatfield and Hedley on the Quakers left, but Hedley’s cross was too deep to the far post.

Gloucester had a half chance when Quakers lost possession on the edge of their own area, and Pinchard fired over the top.

Quakers claimed a penalty on the hour when Platt ran forward and found Asante in the box. Assante went down when challenged but the referee waved play on.

Quakers nearly broke through on 62 minutes when Moke found Heley bursting down the right, but Reckford put in a great challenge on the edge of the box.

Gloucester were having more possession in the second half, and they won a free kick on the right on 69 minutes which was curled into the box, but Taylor held on well.

Gloucester won a corner on the left on 71 minutes, and it ended with a cross by Hanks for Lesson to head wide.

Quakers made a sub on 72 minutes, Williams coming on for Ngandu, and they won a free kick on the left on 74 minutes , but Hedley’s free kick went into the wall.

They broke through Asante and Hatfield on 80 minutes, and Asante found Moke, whose ball towards Hatfield in the area was intercepted.

At this point, Quakers seemed to have regained control again.

It was nearly 2-0 on 87 minutes when Moke played Williams in inside the box, and the youngster’s low shot flashed just past the far post.

Quakers had to make a sub on 88 minutes when Rowe came off with an arm injury and was replaced by Jassem Sukar.

There was stoppage time pressure by Gloucester, but Quakers held on, with Hatfield receiving treatment in the process.

Asante went off and was replaced by Kenzie Harker with just minutes left

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Taylor held on to a deep cross well under pressure

Full time Gloucester 0 Darlington 1

Team: Taylor, Rowe (sub Sukar 88), Lees, Lawlor, Hedley, Platt, Lindley, Moke, Ngandu (sub Williams 72)Hatfield, Asante (sub Harker 90+3)

Subs: Liddle, Vasileiou, Harker

Bookings: Rowe (foul), Lindley (foul)

Gloucester