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Darlington 3 AFC Telford United 1

Goal: Gibson 24 mins 0-1, Hazel 39 mins, 1-1, 84 mins, 2-1, 90+2 mins, 3-1

Attendance 1402

Jacob Hazel's hat trick gave Quakers three vaulable points, as they eventually broke down stubborn ten man Telford.

It looked as if Telford would deny Quakers until Hazel made it 2-1 with a great header with six minutes left, and then completed his hat trick with another -- his first for the club -- in stoppage time.

Quakers had to be patient in the second half as Telford made it hard for them to break down, and anxiety was rising going into the last ten minutes.

Quakers have picked up seven points from three home games this week, leaving them in joint second place in the table, a point behind the leaders, and eleven ahead of eighth placed Kidderminster.

Hazel's hat trick was his first for Quakers, and now he has 17 for the season.

Here are the highlights:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-darlington-v-afc-telford-available-now

and here's the post match reaction:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-round-up-from-darlington-v-afc-telford-united

Quakers had the first opening in the second minute when Jacob Hazel found Jack Lambert on the left, and he moved inside and fired over the top.

Quakers won a free kick 30 yards out for a foul on Jack Lambert on 6 minutes, but Jacob Hazel drove the ball over the top.

Quakers gained their first corner on 9 minutes, when Lambert’s corner was nodded down by Hazel at the far post, and the ball was taken off Jake Lawlor’s toes six yards out.

Quakers kept the pressure going, and Young had to come off his line to fist away a first time cross by Ben Hedley.

Telford were reduced to ten men on 17 minutes when Harry Flowers was dismissed for a high challenge on Hazel, and then striking him on the ground.

The red card seemed to lift Telford, who responded with an effort by Luke Rowe, which went straight at Tommy Taylor.

They took the lead on 24 minutes, when Montel Gibson found space on the edge of the box to hit a dipping right foot shot that went over Taylor into the net.

They had some good possession after that, but couldn’t break down a well-organised visiting defence.

Telford had a goal by Gibson disallowed, and they nearly got a second when Byron Moore broke away, and Taylor did well to save his effort at full length, and Gibson put the rebound over the top.

Quakers tried to stretch the Telford defence, and after winning a corner on one occasion that came to nothing. They equalised on 38 minutes, when Lambert’s cross from the left was touched on to the post by the keeper, and Jacob Hazel tapped in.

They had more pressure after that, but they were relieved when Telford had a second goal chalked off for offside from a free kick that was flicked on just before half time.

Half time 1-1

Quakers won a free kick at the start of the second half that Liddle curled into the six yard box and a defender headed over his own crossbar, but the second corner came to nothing.

Quakers nearly went in front on 50 minutes. Purver found Hazel running through with a great 30 yard pass, and his left foot shot was blocked by the keeper, and then his follow up was blocked on the line.

In Quakers' next attack on 53 minutes, a low cross went right across the six yard box in front of two Darlington players before a defender cleared.

Quakers cranked up the pressure, and forced a corner a minute later that came to nothing.

Quakers had a half chance when Newall played the ball forward and a defender failed to clear properly, and Hazel, who was just behind the defender, volleyed wide.

Hazel then showed some good skill on 66 minutes by swivelling quickly on the edge of the area from a Purver pass and hitting a left foot shot just over the top.

Quakers nearly fell behind when a free kick was played into the box for the lively Gibson who struck a right foot shot that Taylor saved down to his right.

Moke came off after 70 minutes and was replaced by Theo Williams.

Quakers had another chance when Liddle crossed from the left, and the ball was half cleared to Hedley, who chested the ball down and fired over the top

Quakers carelessly gave the ball away on 75 minutes allowing Gibson to get away, and Taylor again had to parry his low shot from the edge of the box.

Quakers nearly scored on 81 minutes when Williams won a free kick 25 yards out, Lambert curled the ball over the wall but Young fisted the ball away.

But then the home side finally broke through on 84 minutes, when Hedley crossed deep from the right to the far post where Hazel got away from his man and headed over the keeper.

And it was all over in the last minute when Nathan Newall crossed from the left, and Hazel headed in for his hat trick from six yards, and his 17th goal of the season.

Final score  Darlington 3 Telford United 1

Team: Taylor, Hedley, Sukar, Lawlor, Newall, Moke (sub Williams 70), Purver, Liddle (sub Rose 90+3), Lambert, Felix (sub Brookwell 85), Hazel.

Subs:  Rivers, Griffiths

Telford:

Young, Flowers, Nolan, Allen, Moore, Evans, Daniels, Gibson, Livingstone, Rowe, Piggott

Subs: Ekpolo, Blissett, Salmon, Williams, Reid

Red card: Flowers