South Shields 0 Darlington 1

Main 30 mins 0-1

Attendance 2669

Darlington started the new year in style by stretching their unbeaten run to eight matches thanks to a delightful goal by Cedric Main.

They produced a very determined display at Mariners Park to go into the play off places. They missed a couple of good chances to make the game safe in the first half, but their defending was very resilient and determined, especially in the second half when the home side started to pile on the pressure.

What a way to celebrate a year in charge for Steve Watson and Terry Mitchell!

Here's Cedric's goal, his sixth of the season

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsGO5RuT_Hg

Quakers missed a great chance in the opening minute. Caden Kelly found Matty Cornish in space just outside the area, he ran on but fired wide of the right hand post.

Quakers looked more threatening than Shields, and Caden Kelly just failed to control a great diagonal pass from Kallum Griffiths on the edge of the Shields box.

After Paul Blackett miskicked Shields’ first chance on 16 minutes, Cornish cut in well from the right and played a 1-2 with Cedric Main, but Shields keeper Myles Boney just managed to slide out of his goal and grab the ball.

Quakers got a free kick on 22 minutes just outside the area for a foul on Main, and Will Hatfield curled the ball over the wall, but straight into Boney’s hands.

Quakers got their first corner on 24 minutes from a Cornish cross. Kelly played the ball to the waiting Hatfield on the edge of the area, but his right foot shot was blocked.

Shields had an escape when Boney tried to clear the ball outside the area and his attempt struck Hatfield, but nobody was there to take advantage as the ball ran across the area.

Quakers took the lead on 30 minutes. Main cleverly controlled a long ball forward by Elliot Forbes, took a touch away from the keeper, and slid the ball home for his sixth goal of the season

Peter Jameson though came to his side’s rescue on 35 minutes when Lucas DeBolle broke through in the area, but the keeper came dashing off his line to deflect the striker’s effort wide. From the corner, Jameson came off his line and punched the ball away to safety

It was nearly 2-0 on 38 minutes, when Barrow, Kelly and Hatfield all combined to give Tom Platt a shooting chance, and his low right foot effort was saved at the second attempt by Boney.

There was another chance just on half time when Quakers won possession in the Shields half, and Hatfield rolled the ball to Kelly, who hit the post from twelve yards

Half time 0-1

It was nearly 2-0 right at the start of the second half when Main found space on the edge of the Shields area, turned, and fired a right foot just wide.

And Main’s pace again caused problems when he chased a long clearance by Jameson, spun away from his marker, but he shot straight at Boney once he got into the area.

But Quakers had Jameson to thank again on 51 minutes when Paul Blackett got away, but Jameson blocked with his outstretched legs.

However, they absorbed that period of pressure, and Main sent Cornish through, but he lost control at the vital moment.

Quakers thought they’d scored on 64 minutes when a corner caused chaos in the Shields box, and Main claimed that his effort had gone over the line, plus there was a handball somewhere, but the referee waved play on.

Shields tried to respond, and Blackett tried to catch Jameson out with a first time shot from 30 yards, but the keeper comfortably held on.

But then some sloppy play by Quakers let Shields get into their box, and Tom Allan slid the ball just wide of the left hand post.

Quakers responded with a ball into the box by Griffiths for Kelly to set up Main, but the striker’s shot was deflected into the keeper’s hands.

On 82 minutes Quakers lost possession just outside the Shields box and the home side quickly broke, but when it looked as if they would get away, Allan tripped over the ball.

Shields left themselves open at the back, and Main set up Salkeld, who tried to find the bottom left corner, but Boney saved.

It was all getting quite tense now, and there was a huge cheer from the Darlo fans when Shields were awarded a free kick just outside the area, and Allan’s free kick went into the wall.

Shields kept pressing, and in stoppage time, Jameson made another point blank save to ensure the points for Quakers -- and huge cheers from the travelling fans on the final whistle.

Full time 0-1

Jameson, Griffiths, Forbes, Lees, Barrow, Platt (sub Lambert 77 mins), Flint, Hatfield, Kelly, Cornish (sub Salkeld 68), Main

Subs: Rivers, Hedley, Al Shabeeb, Lambert

Booking: Forbes, Hatfield, Main

Shields: Boney, Hughes, Morse, Broadbent, Shepherd, Smith, Briggs, Mee, DeBolle, Allan, Blackett

Subs: Seymour, Taylor, Crossley, Ward, Carson