Alfreton 0 Darlington 3

Hatfield 52 mins, 0-1, Hedley 62 mins, 0-2, Hatfield 72 mins, 0-3

Attendance 583

Darlington fully deserved their victory at North Street – and those who were there, will always remember Ben Hedley’s first ever league goal.

Quakers had the better of the first half, but when Will Hatfield scored the first, Quakers went up a gear, and Ben Hedley scored a peach of a left foot shot for his first ever league goal in 167 matches.

Hatfield volleyed in a third to put Quakers well in control and on course for their first league win of the season.

Quakers went close on 4 minutes. Cedric Main held the ball up well and played the ball into the box for Will McGowan, whose left foot shot was well saved by George Willis to his left

In Quakers’ next attack, Main wriggled away from a defender but couldn’t find McGowan on the edge of the area.

There was some more good play on the left on 11 minutes when McGowan found Scott, but the full back’s ball into the area was missed by everyone.

Then skipper Scott Barrow moved forward and struck a left foot shot that went about a yard wide of the right hand post.

Alfreton won the first corner on 18 minutes, but Jack Maskell headed the ball away.

Quakers again exposed the Alfreton defence on 22 minutes when Scott and Barrow combined well, and from close range, Willis smothered Barrow’s effort.

Alfreton had a penalty shout on 28 minutes when Joseph Ododo ran into the area and went down when he was challenged by Ben Hedley, but the referee waved play on -- there appeared to be little, if any, contact.

Quakers had a half chance on 32 minutes when Hatfield crossed for Maskell to head the ball down for Elliot Forbes to fire over the top.

Then on 35 minutes Scott Barrow whipped a dangerous free kick into the box from the right which a defender glanced away for a corner which came to nothing.

Alfreton threatened from a long throw on 38 minutes. Lund’s long throw was headed for Owen German to fire over the top.

Alfreton keeper Willis was booked on 42 minutes when he brought Tom Allan down outside the box, and Will Hatfield nearly scored from the free kick when he curled the ball over the wall, and Willis pushed the ball away

Quakers had enjoyed the better of the first half, but didn't have anything to show for it

Half time 0-0

Quakers won a corner at the start of the second half, but Alfreton cleared the corner at the near post.

Hatfield had the next chance, a 30 yarder that went over the top.

But Alfreton nearly scored, when Lund’s long throw was headed towards the bottom corner by Dodoo, but Jameson got down well and pushed the ball around the post.

Quakers deservedly took the lead on 52 minutes, McGowan ran into the box, had a shot blocked, but the ball ran for Will Hatfield to turn home.

There was nearly a second when Jack Maskell got on the end of a long ball forward, and struck a half volley that Willis saved.

Quakers got a corner on 61 minutes which McGowan into the area where Lees appeared to be pulled to the ground, but the ref awarded a goal kick instead.

Quakers went 2-0 up on 62 minutes. Main made a good run into the box and pulled the ball back for Ben Hedley, who curled a delightful left foot shot into the top corner, his first ever league goal for the club in 167 games!

And it was 3-0 on 71 minutes. Quakers sliced through the Alfreton defence, Main had a shot blocked, but it came out for Hatfield to volley home.

Main had a chance of a fourth from the edge of the box, but Willis saved well.

Quakers made four subs, one of whom, Matty Kirokiro, was making his debut for the first team after coming through the under 23s.

Jameson, Hedley, Barrow, Lees, Scott, Forbes, Hatfield, McGowan (sub Stanton 85) Allan (sub Kirokiro 90+1), Maskell (sub Rutledge 72), Main (sub Hopper 82)

Subs: Barton, Maddison,  Platt

Booking: Hatfield 57

Alfreton:

Willis, Perritt, Newhall, Lund, Hunt, Leckie, Cantrill, German, Ligendza, Fewster, Dodoo

Subs: Anson, McDonagh, Beresford, Solademi, Wright, Pennat, Derham