Mitch gives Quakers victory in stoppage time

By Ray Simpson

Mitch gives Quakers victory in stoppage time

Steve Watson's first game in charge

King's Lynn 0 Darlington 1

Goal: Curry 90+2

 

A goal by Mitch Curry in the second minute of stoppage time gave Quakers three valuable points at the Lawn.

Quakers deserved their victory -- their first in five attempts over the Norfolk side -- with a much better performance. They were better organised and more enterprising than of late, and their efforts to win the game instead of settling for a draw were rewarded in the second minute of stoppage time.

Curry has been out for three months with an elbow injury, and this was his first game back, coming on as sub in the second half.

And Scott Barrow was an instant hit at left back; nearly scoring in the first half, and then bravely playing on despite being injured late in the game.

New signing Barrow’s first touch was a long throw from the left, that was headed away in the area by the Lynn defence.

Quakers got a free kick 25 yards out for a foul on Adriano Moke, but Ben Liddle curled the free kick into the keeper’s hands.

Quakers had a half chance on 11 minutes. A cross by Barrow was half cleared by the Lynn defence to Ben Hedley 25 yards out, and he cut inside and struck a left foot shot that went a yard or two wide.

Andrew Nelson won Quakers’ first corner on 12 minutes, but it came to nothing.

Lynn got a free kick on 15 minutes just outside the box. It was curled towards goal by Stephens, and comfortably held by Tommy Taylor.

Quakers created a half chance on 20 minutes. Moke won possession outside the area and made a good diagonal run into the box, then squared the ball for Andrew Nelson to miskick 12 yards out.

Cardo Siddik came to Quakers rescue on 21 minutes. A cross came in from the left from Rogers which was deflected into the air towards the far post where Devenport was waiting to tap in but Siddik just managed to get his toe to the ball.

Quakers had a chance on 26 minutes. A right wing cross by Hedley was cleared as far as Moke, who headed the ball forward for Nelson to quickly turn and fire just over the top.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 37 minutes. Nelson got the bye line and put the ball into the middle where it was headed away as far as Barrow, who steadied himself well and volleyed left footed towards the top corner, but Paul Jones finger tipped the ball over the top.

Quakers faced a couple of corners before half time, and dealt with them well.

It had been an encouraging first half for Quakers.

Half time

Kings Lynn 0 Darlington 0

The visitors had a chance right at the start of the second half when Akwasi Asante flicked the ball on for Nelson in the area, but a defender blocked his shot.

Lynn had a chance when Rogers crossed from the left for Devenport to put in a looping header that Taylor saved.

Quakers had an opportunity from a free kick, when Hedley crossed for Toby Lees to head into the keeper’s hands.

Lynn got a corner on 59 minutes which ended with a header by Devenport just over the bar.

Another half chance came when Nelson crossed from the left, and after the ball took a deflection, Asante, who was off balance, mishit his shot over the bar.

Barrow and Hatfield then played a 1-2 for Barrow to get into the area on his right foot, but he pulled his effort wide.

Quakers made a sub on 68 minutes, Curry replacing Nelson, then five minutes later, Rivers for Moke.

Quakers went for the winner, Platt weaved his way through but lost the ball inside the area, then Salkeld came on for Hatfield on 79 minutes.

However, there was an injury scare when Barrow went down injured and limped off, but he came back on in clear discomfort.

But Quakers scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Asante held the ball up well and released Salkeld, who in turn played the ball forward for Curry, who kept his cool and slotted the ball home into the bottom left corner, to huge cheers from the Darlington bench and fans.

Quakers defended well after that, to ensure their fifth win of the season, and put them seven points away from safety.

Final score: Kings Lynn 0 Darlington 1

 

 

Team: Taylor, Hedley, Lees, Siddik, Barrow, Platt, Liddle, Moke (sub Rivers 73), Hatfield(sub Salkeld 75), Nelson (sub Curry 68), Asante

Subs: Sukar, Lawlor

Booking: Hatfield 43

 

Jones, Ronan, McFadden, Coulson, Crowther, Hargreaves, Rogers, Morrison, Curtis (Cybulski 70), Devenport, Stephens

Subs: Hughes, Barrett, Dixon-Hodge, Powell

Booking: Devenport (18)