Darlington 1 Leamington 0

Main 52 mins, 1-0

Attendance 1449

Thanks to our match sponsor: Tempest Jones

and our matchball sponsor: Service Master Clean

Cedric Main’s 17^th goal of the season ended Quakers’ losing run and put them back into the play off positions.

Quakers missed some good chances in the first half – one of them a penalty – but Main settled Quakers’ nerves early in the second half.

However, there was still some anxiety as bottom club Leamington threw caution to the wind in the closing stages.

Nevertheless, victory means that Quakers ended their run of three defeats, and climbed up the table to sixth place.

Here's Steve's post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OlyG3p5BFw

and here's the goal;

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/watch-cedrics-goal-from-todays-game

Quakers went close in the third minute. Will McGowan’s corner from the left was headed towards the six yard box by Tom Tweedy, and Cedric Main, at full stretch, headed over the bar.

Alfie Myers-Smith and Jonah Lowes then worked hard to open up the Leamington defence on the right, but the ball ran out of play.

Leamington then had an escape when the ball was played back to keeper Eddie Breary, and his attempted clearance hit Main and bounced straight back into his hands.

Alfie Myers-Smith then found space on the right to put a good cross into the middle, where Lowes managed to get a connection, but unfortunately straight past the post.

Leamington came more into the game without posing much of a threat, and Quakers had the next two chances. First, Jack Maskell headed a Scott Barrow free kick straight at the keeper, then Main headed a right wing cross from Ben Hedley over the top.

Quakers appealled for a penalty on 26 minutes when Tweedy tried to latch on to a header by Platt into the box and he went down when challenged, but the referee waved play on.

The referee did point to the spot though on 28 minutes when McGowan’s shot from inside the area was blocked by the outstretched hand of a defender, but Main pulled his spot kick wide of the left hand post.

Myers-Smith then found space on the right to drive a good ball across the face of goal, but nobody could get a touch.

Main had a half chance when he got around the back of the defence but his pull back was intercepted, then Maskell headed an inswinging corner by McGowan wide of the right hand post.

Half time: 

Darlington 0 Leamington 0

Quakers made a sub at half time, Ethan Fitzhugh coming on for Myers-Smith, so Tweedy switched to the right.

Quakers had a chance on the resumption when Tweedy pulled the ball back for Maskell, but a defender just managed to clear. McGowan curled the corner into the six yard box, but nobody could get a touch.

Quakers took the lead on 52 minutes. Jonah Lowes found Tweedy on the right, and he hit a left foot shot that the keeper could only parry, and Main stroked home the rebound for his 17th of the season, to everyone's relief.

It was nearly 2-0 when Main found space to cross for Lowes to head over from six yards out.

Quakers had their tails up, and Tweedy tried to set up Lowes and a defender cleared against his own crossbar, and then Main’s follow up was blocked on the line.

McGowan then weaved his way into the box past two men and set up Main, who fired over the top.

Quakers were forced into a sub on 67 minutes when Tom Platt came off injured and was replaced by Paddy McLaughlin.

Quakers had another penalty shout for handball when Maskell tried to put the ball in the middle and the ball hit a defender on the arm, but the referee waved play on.

Leamington threw men forward looking for an equaliser to help their cause at the bottom, and Quakers nearly caught them on the break on 82 minutes. Tweedy again found space to set up Maskell, who rolled the ball to Lowes, and he chipped the ball over the bar from ten yards.

Quakers made a third sub, Aidan Rutledge coming on for Maskell.

There was another anxious moment when Miro Pais cut in from the right , got into the box and fired a low shot that Watson saved down to his right.

But after that Quakers managed the game well, and saw the game out for three valuable poits.

Final Darlington 1 Leamington 0

Watson, Hedley, Forbes, Barrow (sub Griffiths 89), PLatt (sub McLaughlin 67), Myers-Smith (sub Fitzhugh 46), Tweedy, Lowes, McGowan, Maskell (Rutledge 82 mins), Main

Subs: Mason, Cornish,  Barton