Curzon Ashton 2 Darlington 1

Cassidy (18 mins, 0-1) Knowles (29 mins, 1-1, 39 mins 2-1)

Quakers' defensive problems were obvious again at the Tameside Stadium.

Even though Jake Cassidy scored his first goal for the club to put Quakers into the lead, Curzon hit back twice before half time.

You can watch Alun's reaction here:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/weve-given-them-goals

The match kicked off 15 minutes late because the team coach was held up in heavy traffic for an hour near Leeds on the way.

Quakers had the first chance on 2 minutes when Will Hatfield won the ball in midfield, charged forward and struck a right foot shot from the edge of the box a couple of yards wide.

At the other end, Brandon Taylor made a good challenge inside the area on Jack McKay.

Quakers got a free kick on the right which was whipped in by Hatfield, but Jarrett Rivers was penalised for handball.

Curzon then gained two corners inside a minute, but Quakers dealt with them comfortably.

Quakers took the lead on 18 minutes. Jarrett Rivers found the overlapping Griffiths with a great ball down the right. The full back drove the ball into the middle where Hatfield had a shot blocked, but a defender cleared the ball straight to Cassidy who fired his first goal for the club into the net.

It was nearly two, when Griffiths put a deep cross in from the right for Cassidy, ten yards out, to head into the hands of keeper Chris Renshaw.

Curzon had a headed goal by defender Scott Wilson disallowed for a push.

But then Quakers conceded a poor goal. Curzon levelled on 29 minutes when Dominic Knowles turned on a throw in, beat two tackles, and then fired right footed past Tommy Taylor.

Curzon got a free kick for a foul by Storey on the corner of the box, but Taylor comfortably held Thomas’ free kick.

Quakers got a free kick of their own on 35 minutes which Griffiths hoisted to the far post, where Cassidy headed wide.

A cross by Griffiths then caused problems in the box, and there were shouts of a penalty when Dos Santos went down, but the ref waved play on.

Wheatley then found Hedley on the left, he beat his man and fired the ball across the face of goal without anyone getting a touch.

Curzon took the lead on 39 minutes. Quakers couldn’t clear a long throw from the right on at least two occasions, and Knowles managed to knock the ball over Tommy Taylor, and turn it into the net.

Quakers nearly levelled just on half time. Griffiths found Hatfield with a ball inside, and he helped the ball on for Ben Hedley to fire just over.

Half time 2-1

Curzon had the first chance of the second half, when Whitham sent McKay through, but Taylor saved well.

Quakers responded thanks to some great determination by Hatfield, who set up Dos Santos and his 25 yarder was turned round the post by Renshaw for a corner.

From that corner, Rivers put the ball into the near post, where Hatfield’s point blank effort was blocked by the keeper.

Curzon nearly went 3-1 up when Quakers didn’t deal with a ball in the box, and the ball ran for Mckay who miskicked a few yards out.

Quakers nearly levelled on 68 minutes when Hedley fired a corner into the six yard box, where Hatfield glanced the ball just wide.

Curzon then had Whitham showed a second yellow card for a foul on Dos Santos.

Quakers dominated possession with their man advantage, but they were nearly caught on the break when Thomas got down the right and crossed for Knowles to head wide.

Luke Charman came on for Joe Wheatley on 76 minutes, and he nearly levelled when he cut in from the left and hit a dipping right foot shot that Renshaw just managed to push around the post.

The woodwork denied Hatfield on 83 minutes when he worked his way into the box and hit a right foot shot that Renshaw just managed to touch, and the ball thundered back off the bar.

Final score: Curzon Ashton 2 Darlington 1

Darlington : Tommy Taylor, Griffiths, Brandon Taylor, Storey, Hedley; Purver, Wheatley (Charman 76), Hatfield; Rivers (sub Nelson72) , Cassidy (sub Mondal 84), Dos Santos

Subs:  Beeden, Hope

Booking: Storey, Wheatley, Purver

Curzon Ashton: Renshaw, Challoner, Waters, Poscha, Thomas (sub Hobson 77), Whitham, Knowles, Curran (sub Daly 69), McKay, Wilson, Mahon

Subs: Flowers, Merrill, Daly, Hobson, Dyche

Booking: Mahon, Whitham