King's Lynn 2 Darlington 1

Maskell 13 mins, 0-1, Hughes 33 mins, 1-1, Crane 79 mins, 2-1

Darlington let the lead slip at the Walks because of two defensive mistakes.

Quakers led with a goal by Jack Maskell – his second of the season – but they let the Linnets back into the game with a defensive lapse.

And with the game in the balance in the second half, some hesitation in defence allowed kings Lynn to score another.

Quakers had an early free kick from Scott Barrow which eventually the KIng’s Lynn defence got away, then Matty Cornish got to the bye line from a Jack Maskell pass, but his low cross was cut out.

Kings Lynn nearly took the lead on 10 minutes. Ross Crane got into the area on the left and pulled the ball back for Josh Hmami, who took a touch and hit a left foot shot that Pete Jameson saved at full stretch

Quakers took the lead on 13 minutes. They were patient with their build up on the right, and McGowan played the ball into the box for Maskell to hit a low shot that went through Jones into the net.

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty on 19 minutes. Matty Cornish laid the ball off for Will Hatfield to run into the area where he seemed to be tripped by a defender, but the referee waved play on.

The visitors then enjoyed some good possession, but couldn't make it count, with Andrew Nelson putting two efforts over the top. 

King’s Lynn showed signs of improvement, and nearly levelled on 31 minutes when Greg Taylor found space inside the Darlington penalty area to head a Hmami corner towards goal, but Kallum Griffiths cleared off the line.

But King’ Lynn levelled on 34 minutes. Quakers lost the ball inside their own area, and Crane set up Hughes to sidefoot past Jameson.

After Toby Lees was yellow carded for a late challenge, Finlay Barnes curled a free kick from the edge of the area over the top.

Half time 1-1

Quakers nearly broke through at the start of the second half, when Elliot Forbes played a great ball over the top of the Linnets defence for Cornish to control, but he couldn’t find a team mate.

After that, the game became a midfield battle, with neither side able to create much until the 68^th minute when Theo Williams, who had just come on as a sub, broke away, but Forbes forced him wide and he fired straight at Jameson.

Quakers made a sub on 72 minutes, Jarrett Rivers coming on, and he was involved in a chance for Quakers, when his ball into the box was seized upon by Hatfield, who set up Nelson to have a shot blocked by a defender.

KL went in front on 79 minutes, a ball towards the Darlington penalty area saw some hesitation, and Crane took advantage to tap the ball home.

Quakers made their second sub on 83 minutes, Ali Alshabeeb coming on for Will Hatfield

Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Flint, Hatfield, McGowan, Cornish (sub Rivers 72), Maskell, Nelson

Subs: Evans, Small, Payne, Alshabeeb

Bookings: Lees, Hatfield