Brackley 3 Darlington 0

Attendance 775

WAlker 40 mins, 1-0, Bates 63 mins, pen 2-0, Robinson 90+1 3-0

Quakers were beaten at Brackley on an afternoon to forget at St James Park.

Quakers were unlucky with a couple of opportunities in the first half, but a controversial second half penalty gave Brackley a 2-0 advantage, and also saw manager Alun Armstrong sent off by the referee for protesting. 

The result means that Quakers have dropped out of the play off places into eighth place on goal difference below Alfreton.

A couple of early Brackley raids were easily dealt with by Quakers, and they nearly took the lead when a through ball was missed by the Brackley defence, and was then fumbled by keeper Danny Lewis allowing Hazel to pick it up, but the striker sidefooted into the side netting from a tight angle.

Brackley replied when a loose clearance by Tommy Taylor went straight to Callum Stead, who tried to find the empty net first time from 40 yards, but pulled his effort wide.

Then Hazel slipped his marker on the left side of the box and he tried to pull the back for the unmarked Blyth, but a defender intercepted.

Brackley had a chance on 12 minutes when a free kick was headed down at the far post and after the ball bounced down Cooper, Cullinane-Liburd’s low’s shot was saved by Taylor.

Quakers won a free kick on 14 minutes for a foul on Moke 30 yards out, and Rivers' attempt at goal was fisted away by the keeper. When the ball came out to Kaine Felix, he crossed into the middle for Hazel to head wide.

Alfie Bates had an attempt at the other end when he turned on the edge of the box, but his right foot effort was easily saved by Taylor.

Quakers nearly scored on 18 minutes when Hazel found Nathan Newall on the left corner of the box with a good ball. Newall beat his man and then struck a powerful left foot shot that whistled past the far post.

Brackley won a free kick on the right on 28 minutes which was crossed into the middle for Preston to head well over the top.

Brackley won a corner on 29 minutes off Lawlor, but York couldn’t get his header on target.

Quakers went their closest yet on 31 minutes. Sukar found Rivers 25 yards out, and he turned quickly, moved inside, and curled a right foot shot towards the top corner, but Lewis pulled off an excellent one-handed save.

Calder then dribbled up the left and pulled the ball back into the Darlington six yard box, but Sukar managed to clear.

Quakers went behind on 41 minutes when they failed to deal with a long throw from the right, and Glenn Walker volleyed home from eight yards

Half time 1-0

At the start of the second half, assistant manager Darren Holloway was asked to leave the pitch by the referee -- he had been shown two yellow cards as he left the field at the end of the first half.

Brackley nearly made it 2-0 at the start of the second half when Smart got around the back of the defence, fired the ball across the six yard box, but Stead’s close range effort was blocked by Lawlor on the line.

Quakers won a corner on the left on 53 minutes which Rivers swung over for Purver to have a shot blocked.

Hazel and Rivers then exchanged passes on the edge of the area, but Hazel’s right foot shot was blocked.

Quakers made their first sub on on 58 minutes, Jack Lambert coming on for Felix.

Brackley were awarded a penalty on 62 minutes when Smart went down slowly following a challenge by Suker and for his protests, manager Alun Armstrong was sent off. Bates scored from the spot.

Danny Rose was now taking touchline duties.

Quakers nearly pulled one back when the Brackley defence hesitated, and Hazel sneaked in behind but his shot was blocked.

It was nearly 3-0 when Stead got away up the left and set up Bates, but Taylor saved at his feet

Then after Brackley made a sub, Stead ran forward and hit the post with a left foot shot.

Quakers won a corner on 80 minutes which Lambert swung in for Cooper to head over. They made another sub on 81 minutes when Howe came on for Blyth.

And it was all over in stoppage time when sub Theo Robinson sidefooted in from the edge of the area.

Final score 3-0

Team: Taylor, Cooper, Lawlor, Sukar, Newall, Moke, Purver, Rivers, Blyth (sub Howe 81), Hazel, Felix (sub Lambert 58)

Subs: Rose, Hedley, Nelson, 

Booking: Purver

Brackley:

Lewis, Carline, Walker, Richards, Cullinane-Liburd, Preston, Smart, Bates, Stead, York, Calder

Subs: Woods, Yussuf, Rooney, Robinson, Matwasa