Rushall Olympic 1 Darlington 1

Nelson 51 mins, 0-1, King 72 mins, 1-1

Darlington deserved more than a point at Dales Lane.

They controlled most of the game without creating many chances until Andrew Nelson scored soon after half time, but they failed to capitalise on some good chances after that and let Rushall back into the game.

Here are Terry Mitchell's thoughts on the game (apologies for the background noise):

And Scott Barrow's as well

Quakers opened up the Rushall defence on the left on 4 minutes when Will Hatfield found Scott Barrow on the left, and the full back, who has recovered from his injury at King’s Lynn, put in a teasing cross that nobody could get on the end of.

Quakers won the first corner on the right on 8 minutes, and after the ball was partly cleared, the ball came in from the left for Elliot Forbes to have a header comfortably saved.

Quakers then won three more corners in the space of two minutes, the last of which from Scott Barrow ended with Toby Lees heading wide.

Rushall got a free kick on the left 14 minutes which was curled over to the far post, where Roddy McGlinchey turned the ball into the side netting, with Pete Jameson covering.

Quakers won a free kick about 20 yards out in a central position on 17 minutes, but Will McGowan fired over.

Rushall had their first chance on 25 minutes when McAlinden blocked a clearance and set up Pennant, who fired over the top from the edge of the area.

Will Hatfield had a shooting chance on 29 minutes when he picked the ball up from a throw in on the left, moved inside, and fired five yards wide from 25 yards out.

The visitors won a free kick just outside the box on the left on 34 minutes,  but Hatfield’s free kick was charged down.

They had a chance when Ali Al Shabeeb, who was making his full debut,  found McGowan who slipped past a defender and fired left footed straight at keeper Paul White.

They had a got a free kick right on the edge of the box for a foul on McGowan on 41 minutes , but Nelson put the ball over the bar.

Half time 0-0

Quakers started the second half with a good move up the left where Hatfield set up Nelson, who curled the ball over the bar.

Barrow then picked up a misplaced pass on the halfway line, ran forward and struck a low shot that White saved.

Quakers deservedly took the lead on 51 minutes, when Barrow took a quick throw in and found Nelson, who struck a right foot shot that beat White at his near post -- his third of the season.

Rushall nearly levelled on 55 minutes when Pennant got on away on the left and into the box,but Jameson saved at the near post.

There was a chance of another when Barrow’s free kick was cleared as far as Forbes, whose right foot shot was blocked on the six yard line.

But Rushall broke again on 60 minutes when a diagonal ball found Pennant breaking clear on the left but he fired wide of the right hand post.

It was nearly 2-0 on 65 minutes. Again the Rushall defence didn’t properly clear a Barrow free kick, and the ball fell for Maskell who hit a low first time shot that White saved at full stretch

There was another chance when Barrow’s corner kick went over to the far post where Lees had a header blocked.

But Rushall levelled after 72 minutes when a shot by Luke Benbow was blocked, but Danny King was first to the rebound and fired past Jameson.

Quakers tried to hit back, and Barrow played a good ball up the left for Main to turn on and get in the box, but his pass inside was intercepted.

They nearly scored on 82 minutes when McGowan slipped the ball to Main in the box. He knocked the ball past the keeper, but a defender just managed to get back and clear the ball off the line.

They got a free kick on the right on 84 minutes that Barrow curled over to the far post, where Lees headed wide.

However, Rushall nearly won it when McDonagh got through, but Jameson bravely saved at his feet, then McGlinchey fired just wide from the edge of the area.

In the last minute, Main got away on the right and crossed to the far post, where Kelly’s low shot was saved by White, and in stoppage time Cornish had a low effort saved

Team: Jameson, Barrow, Lees, Forbes, Griffiths, Hatfield, Flint, McGowan, Alshabeeb (sub Main 57), Nelson (sub Cornish 88), Maskell (sub Kelly 80)

Subs:  Rivers, Leesley,

Booking: Alshabeeb

Rushall: White, MacDonald, Fairnie, Cameron, McDonagh, McAlinden, Arlott-John, Forde, McGlinchey, Martin, Pennant

Subs: Offler, Rees, King, Green, Benbow