Peterborough Sports 0 Darlington 1

Platt 45 mins 0-1

Tom Platt’s first league goal of the season gave Quakers three valuable points at Lincoln Road.

The game was quite scrappy, but the skipper’s sweetly struck volley just before half time gave Darlington their tenth away victory of the season, and kept them in fifth place in the table. It was also their first ever win at Lincoln Road.

Here's the goal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=YMLvtzALNzU

Quakers had a half chance on 4 minutes when Jonah Lowes won the ball on the left and found Ethan Fitzhugh, who drilled a low cross into the six yard box where Cedric Main just failed to get a touch.

Quakers were forced into a sub on 12 minutes when Fitzhugh limped off, and was replaced by Tom Allan.

Sports nearly took the lead when Luca Miller beat two men as he cut in from the left and hit a right foot shot towards the bottom left corner, but Rory Watson saved one-handed.

Main won Quakers’ first corner on 19 minutes. The ball was floated into the six yard box by McGowan, but the referee spotted a foul on the keeper.

Sports then forced two corners of their own inside a minute, but Quakers defended them well.

Quakers threatened with a throw in setpiece, when Barrow crossed low into the six yard box where Maskell’s flick was blocked on the six yard line.

Quakers had their first real opening on 33 minutes. Main won the ball in the air for Maskell to find McGowan, who took a touch and curled a left foot shot just over the bar.

Toby Lees conceded a corner on 37 minutes which Sports nearly scored from. The ball was whipped in by Wood for Miller to flick on but Watson saved under his bar.

Sports won a free kick and a corner before half time, but Maskell headed them both away, and Watson also punched the ball clear.

Quakers took the lead just on half time. Scott Barrow's throw from the left was partially headed clear by the Peterborough defence, and the ball dropped for Tom Platt to hit a superb first time volley past the keeper into the net, for his first league goal of the season.

Half time

Peterborough Sports 0 Darlington 1

Quakers started the second half with a header by Maskell that went straight to Crook.

Then Main played a 1-2 with Maskell to have an effort blocked, and the ball came back to Lowes, who struck a curling right foot shot wide of the right hand post.

Maskell then glanced a Barrow free kick wide.

Quakers made their second sub on 66 minutes, Lowes coming off for Paddy McLaughlin, and then Kallum Griffiths came on for Allen who had picked up a knock.

Quakers had a half chance when a long clearance caused confusion in the Sports defence, and McGowan fired straight at Crook.

Sports broke up the other end through Jones, but Lees put in a great tackle on his own six yard line.

Tweedy thought he’d broken into the box but was stopped by a good tackle, and the ball came back for Maskell, who shot straight at Crook.

Griffiths then played a great crossfield ball for Main to chest down and hit a low shot that Crook saved.

Quakers then made another sub, Main coming off for Rutledge

Quakers looked dangerous on the break in the closing stages, and Sports had to resort to some desperate defending.

Final score: Peterborough Sports 0 Darlington 1

Team: Watson, Hedley, Lees, Barrow, Platt, Lowes (sub McLaughlin 66), Tweedy, Fitzhugh (sub Allan 12, sub Griffiths 70), McGowan, Main (sub Rutledge 82), Maskell

Subs:   McGrath, Barton, 

Booking: Platt (foul)