Darlington 0 Alfreton 2

McDonagh 47 mins, 0-1, Day 90+2 0-2

Attendance 1219

Quakers were beaten by two second half goals against Alfreton.

They nearly scored twice in the opening fifteen minutes, but a penalty early in the second half put Alfreton in control, and despite all of Quakers' efforts, they couldn't draw level, and they were caught on the break in stoppage time after Alfreton had a man sent off.

Here's Steve's reaction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySFiWJAUcN8

Quakers nearly scored in the first minute. Scott Barrow crossed low from the left, and Ben Liddle put in a diving header that George Willis just managed to palm away. The ball fell to the right for Cedric Main to chip towards goal, and the ball glanced off the top of the crossbar before Alfreton got it away for a corner.

Quakers kept the pressure going, and on 7 minutes Main moved in from the left and from 25 yards hit a right foot shot that took a deflection and went for a corner.

Quakers almost scored from the setpiece which was curled in by Liddle, and Siddik glanced a header wide from a few yards.

Alfreton nearly scored though when Dwayne Wiley on the halfway line spotted Tommy Taylor off his line and tried to beat him with a long distance effort which Taylor just managed to push around the post.

Quakers broke from the corner when Cornish found Main on the left, he cut in again and struck a right foot shot over the top.

They nearly scored on 25 minutes. Cornish picked the ball up from Hedley on the right, got to the edge of the box and hit a low left foot shot that went just past the left hand post with the keeper beaten.

Alfreton went down the other end and went close themselves. Cantrill got to the edge of the area, and put in a low shot that went just missed the right hand post.

Quakers got a free kick on the left for a foul on Barrow on 31 minutes. Barrow floated the ball in, but it didn’t quite drop for Siddik in the box.

Alfreton replied with an interception by Lund when he won the ball, ran forward, but Taylor comfortably saved his shot from 25 yards.

Quakers then had a half chance on the edge of the box when Griffiths turned on a pass by Platt, and his low left foot shot took a deflection and was saved by Willis.

Half time 0-0

Quakers made a sub at the start of the second half, Jonny Ngandu coming on for Liddle, who took ill during the break.

Alfreton got a penalty right at the second half when Siddik was adjudged to have brought down Digie and McDonagh scored from the spot into the top left corner.

They nearly levelled on 59 minutes when Main and Cornish did well to work the ball to Barrow, who fired first time just over the top.

Quakers made their second sub on the hour, Curry coming on for Griffiths

Alfreton broke and nearly scored a second though on 64 minutes when Fewster got away, but could only fire straight at Taylor.

Quakers tried to hit back. A free kick was cleared as far as Hatfield, who ran to the edge of the area and fired over the top.

And then a slick move saw Curry put the ball in the net, but he was flagged for offside.

Cornish was then unlucky to see his shot saved by Willis after he had received a pass from Hedley, sidestepped his man, and then hit a left foot shot that keeper turned round the post.

Ngandu then split the defence with a good pass for Main to have an effort turned over the bar.

Quakers made their third sub on 82 minutes, Salkeld coming on for Lees, who seemed to have picked up a knock.

Alfreton had Cantrill shown his second yellow, when the refere realised that he had shown him a yellow in the first half.

Quakers nearly scored when Hedley hoisted the ball into the box, and after Main had a shot blocked, Hatfield’s follow up was deflected wide off a teammate.

At it was 2-0 in stoppage time when Alfreton sub Day won the ball on the halfway line, ran forward, and beat Taylor with a low shot

Full time 0-2

Team; Taylor, Griffiths (sub Curry 60), Lees (sub Salkeld 82)Siddik, Barrow, Hedley, Platt, Liddle (sub Ngandu 46), Hatfield, Cornish, Main.

Subs: Nelson,  Lindley

Alfreton: Willis, Digie, Newall, Cantrill, Lund, McDonagh, Perritt, Clackstone, Fewster, Salmon, Wiley

Subs: Day, Thewlis, Brisley, Dickenson, Askew

Bookings: Perritt, Cantrill