Radcliffe 3 Darlington 1

Clegg 38 mins, 1-0, Hulme 70 mins 2-0, Afuye 71 mins 3-0, Lees 81 mins 3-1

Attendance 737

Two goals in a minute in the second half helped Radcliffe defeat Quakers at the Neuven Stadium last night.

Quakers were in the game even though they trailed to a first half penalty, and they were looking more likely to equalise until Radcliffe scored twice in the space of a minute in the second half.

Quakers started with Josh Scott playing on the left side of midfield.

The visitors went close on 5 minutes, when Cedric Main played the ball back to Will McGowan, who tried a curling shot from the edge of the area that went just wide of the left hand post.

Radcliffe won their first corner on the left on 8 minutes, but when the ball was swung in, the referee blew up for an infringement.

Quakers gained their first corner two minutes later when Scott Barrow crossed towards the far post and keeper Hewelt touched the ball over the bar. However, Tom Allan’s corner went over everybody for a goal kick.

Radcliffe nearly scored after 16 minutes. Pete Jameson made a point blank save from Rio Clegg, and then Ben Hedley cleared off the line from Michael Afuye

But a minute later, Quakers were denied. Main crossed to the far post where Josh Scott chested the ball down, beat the keeper but a defender blocked the ball a couple of yards out, and when the ball came back into the danger zone from McGowan, it floated just past the far post.

Radcliffe were awarded a penalty on 26 minutes when Clegg went down in the area when he was challenged, but Jameson guessed correctly and saved the penalty from Clegg down to his left.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 31 minutes. The ball was played across the Radclife 18 yard box for Allan to play the ball inside for Main, who turned quickly and forced a full length save out of Hewelt

They nearly scored from the corner, when the ball was half cleared to the edge of the box, Barrow charged the clearance down, and shot straight over the bar.

Radcliffe were awarded a second penalty on 38 minutes for a foul by Ellit Forbes, and this time Clegg went to the opposite corner, and beat Jameson.

Quakers responded well, and McGowan squared the ball for Tom Platt to fire just over the top from the edge of the area.

Half time: Radcliffe 1 Darlington 0

Quakers made a sub at half time, Charlie Lennon coming on for Josh Scott

Radcliffe had the first chance of the second half, when Clegg fired over the top from a quickly-taken free kick.

But Quakers nearly levelled on 50 minutes when Main’s low shot hit the post, and Allan’s follow up was somehow cleared off the line.

Radcliffe were quickly back at the Quakers defence though, and after one shot was saved by Jameson, Matt Sargent fired over the top.

However, the pace of half time sub Charlie Lennon caught Radcliffe on the break, and he set up Main, whose shot on the turn went just wide of the left hand post with the keeper beaten.

Quakers made their second sub on 67 minutes, Aidan Rutledge coming on for Tom Allan.

But Radcliffe went 2-0 up on 70 minutes when they worked their way into the Darlington six yard area, and Jordan Hulme cheekily backheeled the ball past the stranded keeper.

And within a minute it was 3-0, when Afuye picked the ball up on the left, worked his way into the box, and curled a left foot shot into the bottom corner.

Quakers made a third sub on 77 minutes, Matty Cornish replacing Main

Quakers tried to hit back, and Ben Hedley had a right foot shot deflected for a corner. Quakers pulled a goal back from the corner, Toby Lees finding space to head past Hewelt.

Sub Aidan Rutledge nearly pulled another back, but his volley from a left wing cross was just wide then Jack Maskell had another effort cleared off the line late in the game.

Final score: Radcliffe 3 Darlington 1

Team:  Jameson, Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Scott (sub Lennon 46), Allan (sub Rutledge 67)Platt, McGowan, Maskell, Main (sub Cornish 77)

Subs McGrath, Stanton, Barton