Leamington 2 Darlington 1

Scorer: Landers 7 mins 1-0, Berridge 11 mins 2-0, Hatfield 43 mins, 2-1

Attendance 723

Darlington’s eight match unbeaten run came to an end at the New Windmill Ground.

The damage was done in the first 11 minutes, when Leamington scored twice and had something to hold on to for the rest of the game on a ground where Quakers have only won twice in the league in the past.

Will Hatfield pulled a goal back before half time, but they didn’t create enough chances in the second half to trouble the home side.

Here are the goals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSx2q9RVaSs

Here's Steve's post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edX3tEu71vU

Quakers nearly scored on 2 minutes. A good patient move ended with Matty Cornish crossing into the middle for Jack Lambert to have a shot charged down, then Cedric Main teed the loose ball up for Lambert to fire just wide, courtesy of a deflection. The corner when it came in from the left, was held by Leamington keeper Callum Hawkins.

Quakers conceded after just seven minutes. A deep cross came in from the left from Josh Quaynor to the far post, where Henry Landers headed past Jameson into the net.

It got worse for Quakers, as Leamington scored a second on 11 minutes. A long throw from Rob Evans from the left was flicked on, and Tim Berridge knocked the ball in from six yards.

Leamington nearly got another on 15 minutes when Landers broke away, but Peter Jameson managed to block his low shot with an outstretched foot.

Quakers started to get back into the game. Scott Barrow had a left foot shot blocked , then Caden Kelly got round the back of the defence on the right but his pull back was intercepted. Matty Cornish then found space in the box but fired wide with his left foot.

They also had an optimistic penalty shout for handball turned down after a cross by Kallum Griffiths was blocked.

They got a goal back on 43 minutes. Lambert’s ball into the box was nodded away by a defender as far as Will Hatfield, who hit a dipping right foot shot over the keeper for his eighth goal of the season.

Half time Leamington 2 Darlington 1

The second half started with Hatfield trying to thread the ball through for Main, but a defender intercepted, then Hatfield was setting himself up for a shot at goal on the edge of the box, but was dispossessed.

Griffiths then found Lambert with a good pass about 25 yards out, but Lambert’s shot was saved by Hawkins.

Quakers were building the pressure up now, and Kelly won a free kick on the corner of the box for a foul on 59 minutes, but Hatfield’s free kick was held by Hawkins.

However, they had Griffiths to thank for a clearance off the line from a header off a corner on 63 minutes, and then when Leamington won possession inside the Darlington half, Landers broke away and Jameson pushed his effort around the post.

Quakers made two subs on 72 minutes, Jarrett Rivers and Jack Maskell coming on for Cornish and Kelly, then five minutes later Tom Platt came on for Will Flint.

After making the subs, Quakers almost equalised when Lambert whipped the ball in from the left and Main was inches away from connecting.

Quakers were reduced to ten men in the last minute when Lees received his second yellow card, which will mean a one match suspension against Curzon Ashton on Saturday.

Nevertheless, they kept pressing, but didn't really trouble Hawkins in the Leamington goal.

The defeat means that Quakers have dropped to eighth place, but are still well in touch with the play off chasers.

Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Lees, Forbes, Barrow; Flint (sub Platt 77), Hatfield, Lambert, Cornish (sub Maskell 72), Main, Kelly (sub Rivers 72)

Subs: Hedley, Salkeld

Booking Lees 43, Flint 74

Red -- second yellow Lees 89

Leamington: Hawkins, Meredith, Quayno, Evans, Landers, Walker, Edwards, Berridge, Ward, Williams, Turner

Subs: Streete, Shorrock, Medrano, Clarke, Farmer.