Spennymoor Town 1 Darlington 3

Goal: Lambert 11 mins 0-1, Hazel 14 mins, 0-2, 28 mins, 0-3, McKeown 75 mins, 1-3

Attendance 1005

Quakers produced yet another excellent away performance to earn a place in the fourth round of the FA Trophy.

Quakers pulled Moors apart in the first 28 minutes with goals from Jack Lambert and two from Jacob Hazel, and earned an away tie at Southend in the next round on 14th January.

They could have scored several more in a first half which they dominated with their superior passing, determination and commitment. The second goal which Jacob Hazel scored will be added to the list for goal of the season, as it started just outside the Darlington penalty area, and ended with a delightful shot by Jacob Hazel.

The 400 plus Darlington fans had a great night, and gave the players a loud ovation at the end of the game.

Here's what manager Alun Armstrong had to say after the game:

and courtesy of Spennymoor, here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-fa-trophy-tie

Quakers had more possession in the opening minutes without really getting into the Moors penalty area

Moors had the first half chance when Glen Taylor pulled the ball back from the bye line for Paul Blackett, under pressure,  to toepoke wide from six yards.

Quakers responded when Kaine Felix burst through the midfield, and Moors keeper Bellagambi came out and saved at his feet.

Quakers slowly got on top and took the lead on 11 minutes when a long clearance from Tommy Taylor was helped on by Mark Beck  through the middle for Jack Lambert to nip in behind him and lift the ball over the advancing keeper, his 13th of the season.

And it was 2-0 on 14 minutes, with a fantastic team goal, certainly a contender for goal of the season. Lambert won the ball next to his own penalty area, found Adriano Moke who ran forward and played a 1-2 with Kaine Felix. He put the ball into the penalty area for Beck to lay off for Hazel to fire left footed past the keeper into the bottom corner, his eighth of the season. The celebrations in front of the Darlo fans were thoroughly deserved.

It was nearly 3-0 on 22 minutes. Right back Kallum Griffiths knocked the ball forward for Hazel, who held off his man and played the ball inside for Beck, who turned quickly and put a left foot shot just wide of the right hand post.

Quakers were all over Moors, and the third goal did come on 28 minutes, Quakers put the Moors defence under strong pressure when Lambert had a shot partly blocked, then another defender under pressure from Felix, miscued the ball in the air and it dropped for Hazel, who squeezed the ball into the bottom corner of the net despite a defender’s attempt to clear on the line.

Moors missed a chance to pull one back when Ramshaw got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Dylan Boyle to sidefoot over from ten yards.

Hazel nearly got his hat trick on 40 minutes. Moors didn’t deal with a simple long clearance that bounced over their defence, Hazel beat Bellagambi to the ball and lobbed him, but a defender got back to just clear off the line.

Spennymoor nearly pulled a goal back on half time when the ball was nodded down for Blackett, who fired wide of the post.

It had been a superb first half for Quakers and they fully deserved their lead.

Ht 0-3

Lambert nearly got his second on 49 minutes when Moke got down the right and pulled the ball back to him, but the keeper saved his shot with an outstretched foot.

Quakers threatened a fourth when Beck headed a right wing corner across goal, and Hazel was pulled up for a foul on the keeper.

However, they eased up slightly, and sub Tom Allan missed a great chance to pull a goal back from six yards out.

Quakers had a chance though when Moke won possession and set up Hazel on the edge of the box, but he pulled his shot wide.

Moors pulled a goal back on 75 minutes when McKeown latched on to a through ball, and fired across Taylor into the bottom corner.

Quakers nearly got another when Liddle set up Lambert, who fired wide, then a great run by sub Paddy Almond won a corner.

Quakers kept control in the second half, and saw the game out for a place in the last 32 and a trip to Roots Hall in Southend.

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Dodds, Sukar, Hedley, Moke, Purver (sub Liddle 74) Lambert (sub Rivers 90), Beck, Hazel (sub Almond 82), Felix

Subs: Rose, Martin

Bellgambi, Lufudu (sub Anderson 73), Tait, Taylor, Ramshaw, Cousin-Dawson, Ledger, Blackett (sub Allan 46), Whitehouse (sub McKeown 64), Boyle, Thompson

Subs: Watt, Wheatley, Flatters, Garratt