We'd like to thank this afternoon's match sponsors, Neil and Angela Raper

and matchball sponsors Paul and Jen Hodgson

Darlington 1 Bradford Park Avenue 2

Griffiths (og 15 mins), Rawson (33 mins, 0-2), Charman (65 mins, 1-2)

Attendance 1322

Man of the match: Will Hatfield

In memory of those we have lost

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/remembering-old-friends

Quakers fell to their third defeat of the season at home to Bradford PA.

Quakers created enough chances, but again weak defending let them down in the first half. They launched a rousing fightback in the second half with half time sub Luke Charman pulling a goal back, but they couldn't find a way past former keeper Jonny Saltmer.

Will Hatfield was booked for an early challenge, but Tommy Taylor was quickly off his line to hold the free kick.

Bradford had the first chance on 9 minutes. A ball went over the top of the Darlington defence for Luca Havern to pick up, but he pulled his shot well wide.

Quakers forced a couple of corners, the second of which George Smith whipped in just under the bar, and Saltmer touched the ball over the top.

But Bradford took the lead on 15 minutes. Luke Rawson broke into the Darlington box on the right, pulled the ball back into the middle, and Kallum Griffiths, facing his own goal and under pressure from Francis, could only turn the ball into his own net.

Quakers nearly levelled, when Will Hatfield picked the ball up from 25 yards out and hit a right foot shot that Saltmer turned around the post.

Then George Smith tried his luck from 30 yards, but his effort went over the top.

Hatfield surged forward on 24 minutes, beating two men in a great run into the box and hit a low shot from an acute angle that Saltmer could only parry, and unfortunately there was nobody in a Darlington shirt to take advantage.

Quakers nearly levelled on 29 minutes. Cassidy turned quickly on the edge of the box and hit a right foot shot that went inches wide of the post.

Cassidy was unhappy with himself a minute later when Griffiths crossed deep from the right for him to head over the top from eight yards.

Just when it looked as if Quakers would score, Bradford broke through at the other end. This time, Nicky Clee found space on the right of the box and played the ball into the six yard area where Luke Rawson, completely unmarked, tapped in.

Quakers’ response was to take off Kevin Dos Santos and replace him with Lexus Beeden.

It was nearly 3-0 when Downing crossed from the left to the far post, and Taylor made a point blank save from Francis.

Here's Alun's reaction to the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig_Zq1Awl88

Half time 0-2

Luke Charman came on as sub in the second half for Joe Wheatley, and his first action was to make a run into the box but a defender cleared.

Quakers nearly pulled one back when AlexPurver found Jarrett Rivers in the box, and he whipped the ball into the six yard box where Charman was only inches away from connecting.

Smith then did well to cross from the left with his right foot to the far post, where Griffiths had a header deflected wide.

Quakers pulled a goal back from a corner on 65 minutes, when Rivers curled a corner in from the left for Charman to head into the roof of the net – his first of the season, and his first ever league goal for Darlington.

Andrew Nelson came on for Rivers a minute later.

Quakers started to pile on more pressure, and in one fiery moment, Charman and Nowakowski were booked.

There was a scramble in the Bradford box on 79 minutes from a Hatfield corner, but Saltmer smothered the ball.

Quakers nearly levelled again when Charman held off a defender from a long ball to get into the box, have a shot saved by Saltmer who recovered quickly to block the follow up from Hatfield.

Nelson then tried his luck from the edge of the box, but dragged his shot wide.

Quakers then forced two corners as they increased the pressure, but without success.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Hatfield had a shot from a corner blocked at point blank range.

Team: Tommy Taylor, Griffiths, Brandon Taylor, Storey, Smith, Hatfield, Purver, Wheatley (sub Charman 46), Dos Santos (sub Beeden 36), Rivers (sub Nelson 66), Cassidy

Subs: Hedley, Mondal

Bradford PA: Saltmer, Windass, Downing, Nowakowski, Havern, Lund, Marriott, Francis (sub Johnson 61), Rawson (sub Guilfoyle 90+1), Odunston, Clee (sub Toulson 68)

Subs: Hall, Hill

Here's our half time ad roll