Southport 2 Darlington 2

Attendance 1189

Scorers: Platt 5 mins, 0-1, Sze (pen) 15 mins, 1-1, Main 62 mins 1-2, Slew 90 mins 2-2

Darlington are still looking for their first win at Haig Avenue since 1970 after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Southport..

They were just five minutes of stoppage time away from victory of the season when Jordan Slew scored in a goalmouth scramble to deny Quakers their eighth away win of the season.

It looked as if Cedric Main’s 11^th goal of the season was enough midway through the secod half after Tom Platt's early first half goal was cancelled out by a penalty.

But results elsewhere went Quakers' way, and they're still in sixth place.

Here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/watch-the-goals-from-the-2-2-draw-at-southport 

and Terry's interview

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/terry-were-disappointed-at-the-chances-we-missed

Southport’s early tactic was to test Quakers with long throws from the left through Tom Moore, but Quakers managed to deal with them.

Tom Allen won the first corner on 5 minutes and Quakers scored from it. The ball was curled over by Tom Tweedy over to the far post where Tom Platt, completely unmarked, poked the ball home for his first league goal of the season.

There was nearly a second on 10 minutes when Tom Tweedy found plenty of space on the left to play a diagonal ball over to the far post, where Tom Allan fired into the side netting.

Southport tried to counter through MacKenzie down the right, but Scott Barrow got back and won a goal kick.

But Southport won a penalty on 15 minutes when they played the ball forward to the edge of the Darlington box where Chris Sze tried to control the ball, but the referee said that he was impeded by Rory Watson and pointed to the spot. Sze sent the keeper the wrong way

Quakers had a great chance on 20 minutes when Tweedy found McLaughlin on the overlap in the box, and he chipped the ball into the middle where Allan tried to chest the ball down, but could only put the ball into the keeper’s hands

Darlington covered well on 25 minutes when Sze found Jordan Slew in plenty of space on the left, but Quakers got back in numbers to block his shot.

Quakers were back on 26 minutes when Platt found Cedric Main on the right of the box, and he sidestepped a defender before hitting a right foot shot from an acute angle that hit the bar with Renshaw beaten.

After the lively Tweedy and Barrow had shots charged down, Quakers won a corner that Southport cleared at the near post.

And they nearly scored from an inswinging free kick by Tweedy from the right that Forbes just failed to get a touch on, and nevertheless the ball went just past the post.

However, Southport broke away through Sze, who beat a defender, but fortunately Watson read his shot and saved down to his right

Half time 1-1

Southport had the first chance of the second half, a low shot by Slew which Watson saved well to his right.

Quakers had a handball shout when Tweedy’s cross seemed to hit a defender on the hand, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers had a chance on 56 minutes when Rutledge laid off Barrow’s throw for Main to pick up, run into the area, but he fired straight at Renshaw

Quakers took the lead on 62 minutes with a great goal. The ball was played forward for sub Maskell to find Stanton, who played a perfect ball into the path of Main, who ran on and beat Renshaw for his 11^th league goal of the season.

Southport nearly levelled on 68 minutes. The ball was whipped in from the right, and Moore headed just wide.

Southport put Quakers under more pressure, and Watson saved a low shot from McKenzie,  then he dived at the feet of Slew.

Maskell went close for Quakers when he shook off two defenders, moved inside, and fired left footed over the top.

It was nearly 3-1 when Tweedy broke up the left from a McLaughlin pass, and pulled the ball back for Stanton, who sidefooted wide.

Howells had a chance for a third, but Renshaw parried his effort.

Southport piled the pressure on in the closing minutes, and they levelled when a corner came in from the left, Quakers couldn’t get it away, and Slew scored from close range

Final score 2-2

Team: 

Watson, Forbes, Lees, Barrow (sub Hedley 87), Platt, McLaughlin, Allan (sub Griffiths 79 mins), Stanton, Tweedy (sub Scott 85) Rutledge (sub Maskell 61), Main (Howells 82 mins)

Subs: Mason, Myers-Smith

Booking Lees foul 23, Rutledge foul 33, Stanton foul 61, Barrow 85 foul