Brackley 1 Darlington 0

Attendance 829

Newton pen 16 mins, 1-0

Quakers were beaten by a harsh first half penalty at Brackley.

They put on a better performance than at Banbury on Tuesday, and had plenty of possession in the second half and got into some good positions, but didn't create enough chances in front of goal.

Quakers battled away in the second half and Brackley defended in depth, but they couldn't grab a deserved equaliser.

Here's the postmatch from Steve:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/game-turned-on-the-penalty-decision

Quakers got a free kick in the frst minute 25 yards out for a foul on Will Hatfield, and Hedley’s free kick was headed away for a corner.

Quakers nearly scored from it. Kallum Griffiths curled the ball in from the left for Cardo Siddik to put in a powerful header that Brakley keeper Danny Lewis pushed over the top.

Brackley broke from the second corner, and Danny Newton had a shot blocked on the edge of the area.

After Quakers cleared a free kick, Cedric Main sent Griffiths away down the right, and the wingback won a corner which came to nothing.

Brackley had a chance on 12 minutes when a free kick came in from the right and bounced off a defender, falling for Morgan Roberts to put in a left foot shot that keeper Tommy Taylor comfortably saved.

Brackley got a penalty on 16 minutes when Shep Murombedzi fired towards goal from the edge of the box, Taylor parried it, but was then adjudged to have brought down Hall – although he seemed to get a hand on the ball – and the referee awarded a penalty which Newton converted. Quakers also complained that there was a handball in the build up.

Brackley went looking for a second, and forced a couple of corners with Gareth Dean putting the second one wide from ten yards.

The goal seemed to knock Quakers’ confidence until they won a corner on the right on 31 minutes, and they had a loud appeal for a penalty when Siddik seemed to be pushed as he went for Griffiths’ corner, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers won a free kick for a foul on Platt and Griffiths hoisted the ball into the box, but the flag went up for offside.

Brackley nearly got a second with a left foot shot by Roberts which Taylor punched away, and the rebound was fired well wide.

Half time 1-0

Quakers made a sub at half time, Adriano Moke coming on for Jake Lawlor who had a back injury, so Tom Platt went into the centre of defence, but then Siddik went down injured for a neck injury and needed treatment.

Quakers put a promising attack together down the right on 59 minutes which ended with Griffiths putting a good deep cross over to the far post, where Hedley couldn’t get a shot away.

Then Main found Hedley on the overlap on the left, and the wingback’s cross was just too high for Griffiths.

Quakers made their second sub on on 63 minutes when Mitch Curry went off and was replaced by Andrew Nelson.

Quakers got a free kick on the left corner of the box on 64 minutes, but Hedley curled the ball over the top.

Nelson did well to keep the ball on the left and whipped in a cross that once again went over Griffiths at the far post.

They nearly scored on 76 minutes. After Main regained possession, the ball came to Matty Cornish who hit a right foot shot that took a deflection and looped just over the top.

Hatfield put Siddik round the back of the defence, but nobody could get on the end of his low cross.

Quakers got a free kick for a foul on Cornish in a central position 25 yards out, but he slipped as he took the kick and Lewis easily saved.

Quakers made their third sub on 86 minutes, Ngandu coming on for Griffiths.

They dominated the closing minutes, but Brackley made it hard for Quakers to break them down by bringing eleven men back behind the ball.

Team; Taylor, Griffiths (sub Ngandu 86 mins), Lees, Lawlor (sub Moke 46) Siddik, Hedley, Platt, Hatfield, Cornish, Curry (sub Nelson 63), Main

Subs: Liddle, Salkeld

Brackley: Lewis, Calder, Murombedzi, Dean, Lilly, Lyttle, O'Sullivan, Hall, Roberts, Matwasa, Newton

Subs: Armson, Bates, Gudger, Carline, Turner