Needham Market 0 Darlington 1

Hatfield 81 mins

Attendance 495

A top class goal by Will Hatfield gave Quakers the points at Needham Market.

It looked as if the swirling wind and slippery pitch would be the real winners of the game, until Hatfield produced a magnificent volley to send Darlington home happy.

You can watch it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZyOqJgLc2E

The victory means that Quakers are unbeaten in their last six matches, have won three out of their last four matches, and are up to 11th in the table, four points below the play off positions.

Both teams took a few minutes to adjust to the blustery wind, which was blowing across the pitch. Ben Hedley made a good interception as Luke Ingram tried to get away down the right.

Needham had a brief moment of anxiety when a high ball by Will Flint blew into their penalty area, and keeper Marcus Garnham looked as if he’d misjudged the flight of the ball, but held on.

Ben Hedley had the first shot of the game on 12 minutes when Will Hatfield and Jack Lambert combined well on the left and set up the full back, who fired over the top from the edge of the box.

Cedric Main then produced a lovely piece of skill to keep the ball in on the right and then set up Hatfield, whose shot was charged down.

Quakers were tested for the first time from a left wing free kick on 18 minutes, but Elliot Forbes headed the ball away, then Kallum Griffiths made a good interception as Liam Cross tried to dribble through.

Lambert played a good ball over the Needham defence for Maskell to control in the box and set up Griffiths, whose shot was blocked.

After Needham's Lambe was booked for a foul on Main midway inside the Needham half, Lambert curled the free kick into the area, but the wind took it beyond everybody for a goal kick. Lambert then picked the ball up on the left and tried a right foot shot which went a few yards wide.

There was a close thing on 40 minutes when Garnham misjudged a long clearance into his area, fumbled the ball, but a covering defender cleared for a corner.

The ball was half cleared as far as Hedley, who tried to curl the ball into the top corner, but Garnham saved.

There was a close thing just on half time when Lambert judged his cross into the wind perfectly, and Maskell glanced his header just wide of the far post.

Quakers ended the half on top, and it would be interesting to see how they coped with the wind kicking the other way, as Needham hadn't really threatened.

Half time 0-0

Needham started the second half with a low cross by Watkiss that zipped across the Darlington box before it was put out for a corner which Quakers managed to get away.

Needham got another corner on 52 minutes which Quakers again cleared.

Quakers tested Garnham with a high ball into the box which he punched clear, and Maskell’s follow up header was saved on the line.

Griffiths then put a great cross over from the right that a defender headed over his own crossbar, but the following corner was headed away at the near post.

Quakers made two subs on 64 minutes, Matty Cornish and Cam Salkeld coming on for Platt and Maskell.

Needham won a corner after a good break on 79 minutes, but Chambers headed the ball wide from a good position.

Quakers took the lead on 81 minutes with a top quality goal. Cornish found Salkeld on the right, and his cross was cleared as far as Will Hatfield, who smashed the ball into the net on the volley for his sixth goal of the season -- a superb goal.

Needham tried to hit back, and Jameson did well to smother an inswinging corner.

But there was nearly an equaliser when Jameson’s clearance hit an attacker and rebounded for McGrath, who pulled a speculative effort wide.

But Quakers held on for victory which will always be remembered for Will Hatfield's top class volley.

Full time Needham Market 0 Darlington 1

Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Forbes, Lees, Hedley, Flint, Hatfield, Platt (sub Cornish 64), Lambert (sub Rivers 73), Maskell (sub Salkeld 64), Main (sub al Shabeeb 84)

Subs: McGrath

Booking: Maskell, Hatfield

Needham Market

Garnham, Dye, Smith, K Morphew, D Morphew, Ingram, Allen, Hunter, Lambe, Watkiss, Cross

Subs: Hammond, Chambers, McGrath, Mills, Tomlinson