Darlington 1 Blyth Spartans 0

Scorer: Liddle (90 +5)

Attendance 1468

Darlington are now unbeaten in six league and cup matches thanks to a superb goal by Ben Liddle deep into stoppage time.

It looked as if Blyth had succeeded in stopping the threat of Mark Beck -- who barely had a sniff of goal all night -- until Liddle produced great technique with a left foot volley from the edge of the box for the winner.

And here it is:

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

His goal will be remembered for a long time, just as Lee Gaskell's was against Blyth in the EvoStik League in 2016.

The win lifts Quakers up to third in the table on goal difference below Banbury, and just a point off leaders King's Lynn.

Here are the reactions of Ben and Alun to the victory

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/reaction-to-blyth-win-available-now

Blyth had the first effort on goal after 6 minutes, a long range effort by Michael Richardson that went wide.

Quakers were forced into an early sub, when right back Kallum Griffiths limped off and was replaced by David Wheater, which meant that Ben Hedley switched to right back and Jassem Sukar to the left, so Wheater went in the middle.

Quakers had a great chance on 9 minutes when Hedley found Kaine Felix on the right. Felix cut into the middle and hit a left foot shot that went just wide of the right hand post.

Blyth had a half chance when Michael Liddle’s left foot shot took a deflection, looped in the air, and Tommy Taylor held the ball under pressure on the line.

In Blyth’s next attack, David Wheater made an excellent slide tackle inside his own area to stop Cedric Main, then Richardson had a shooting chance on the edge of the box which he pulled wide.

Quakers hit back with a good run up the left by Jarrett Rivers to get him into the box, and Jack Lambert couldn’t control his low cross.

A good strong header forward by Hedley found Lambert running into the box, but Blyth keeper Alex Mitchell held his low cross.

Quakers won a corner on 31 minutes that Danny Rose floated over from the right, and Wheater, on the six yard line, glanced his header wide.

But Blyth had a good chance on 41 minutes when Richardson found Cedric Main 18 yards out, and he sidestepped a defender before firing straight at Taylor.

HT 0-0

Blyth threatened a couple of times at the start of the second half, but Jake Lawlor managed to snuff out their attacks.

Quakers gained a free kick in a good position 30 yards out on 55 minutes, but the referee penalised Quakers for a foul when the ball went into the middle.

Quakers came to life on 61 minutes when Rivers received the ball on the left, drew two defenders towards him and set up Lambert, whose right foot shot went just over the top.

They made their second sub on 70 minutes when Junior Mondal came on for Rivers.

They nearly scored on 74 minutes when Hedley crossed from the right, and Blyth defender Nathan Buddle almost sliced the ball into his own net, the ball rolling just wide of the left hand post.

After a five minute delay while one of the nets was repaired (thanks to big Al), Quakers made their third sub, Ben Liddle came on for Danny Rose. Ben's dad Craig was in the crowd.

Quakers had a great chance on 83 minutes when Liddle crossed from the left to the far post, where Beck nodded the ball down for Mondal, whose shot was smothered by Mitchell.

But the breakthrough came in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Hedley crossed from the right towards Beck, but the ball was headed away straight to Liddle, who hit the ball full on the volley into the bottom corner of the net to the huge delight of every Darlo fan in the ground!

Team: Taylor, Griffiths (sub Wheater 6 mins), Lawlor, Sukar, Hedley, Rose, Purver, Lambert, Rivers (sub Mondal 70), Felix (sub Liddle 80), Beck.

Subs: Martin, Barbosa.

Team: Mitchell, Liddle, Buddle, Richardson, Hickey, O'Donnell (sub Gillies 77), McKeown, Elsdon, Deverdics, Main (sub Cornish 67), Bodenham

Subs: Evans, Dopson, Scott

We'd like to thank Glenwoods for being our match sponsors

https://glenwooddecoratingsupplies.co.uk/

And MSG Bike Gear for being our matchball sponsors

https://www.msgbikegear.co.uk/