Quakers beaten by second half goals in controversial game
By Ray Simpson
But still stay top of the table
Darlington 0 Chorley 3
Goal: Hall 58 mins, 0-1, Whitehouse 78 0-2, Sampson 83 mins 0-3
Attendance 1727
Quakers were beaten by three second half goals at Blackwell Meadows against Chorley.
But they will look back though on three key decisions that went against them in the game, which could have seen Chorley have a man sent off in two of them, but nevertheless Quakers were below their best, and could have few grumbles about their performance.
Here are the goals and Alun's reaction to the game:
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-to-chorley-home-defeat
Chorley had the first chance on 4 minutes, when Billy Whitehouse found Mark Sampson just outside the box, and the striker hit a left foot shot that went a yard wide of the left hand post.
Jack Lambert weaved his way into the Chorley box on the left, but his low cross was intercepted.
Quakers had a penalty shout turned down when Adriano Moke found Kaine Felix on the right, and the winger hoisted the ball into the middle where Mark Beck seemed to be pushed in the back as he went for the ball, and the referee waved play on.
Quakers went close on 12 minutes. Moke had two shots from inside the area charged down, and the ball broke for Lambert, who fired left footed just wide.
Felix then showed some neat skill to get away from two defenders, but his pass to Beck inside the area was intercepted.
There was a controversial moment on 17 minutes. Jacob Hazel helped the ball on neatly for Felix to latch on to, Felix tried to knock the ball past him, and keeper Matt Urwin handled outside the area and was shown a yellow card, when most expected a red. Lambert drove the free kick into the wall.
Chorley hit back, and Jassem Sukar had to clear the ball over his own crossbar after it had been nodded down at the far post. From the corner that followed, Beck cleared off the line.
Lambert, back helping his defence, pulled off a good tackle inside his own area.
Chorley missed a good chance on 32 minutes when Whitehouse got to the bye line and pulled the ball back for Jon Ustabashi to put over the top.
Felix nearly pinched one on 37 minutes when he dispossessed a defender inside the box, and fired just wide of the left hand post.
But Chorley had another chance on 42 minutes, but Hall’s shot was deflected wide.
Quakers nearly scored on 44 minutes when Sukar crossed to the far post, where Hazel headed down, and Felix fired just wide.
Half time 0-0
Chorley were lucky not to be reduced to ten men on 54 minutes when Adam Blakeman tripped Felix as he was getting away from him – just as he had done a few minutes earlier and had been booked -- but the referee decided not to show him a yellow and give him a strong lecture.
Chorley took the lead on 58 minutes when Blakeman crossed from the left to the far post, where Hall chested the ball down and poked it past Taylor.
Quakers missed a chance to equalise on 64 minutes. Beck headed Lambert’s deep corner for Purver to head over the top from twelve yards.
Quakers made two subs on 65 minutes, Ben Hedley and Alex Purver coming off, and Paddy Almond and Ben Liddle going on.
Chorley had a chance straight after those subs, but Taylor saved at full stretch from Ustabashi.
But Chorley scored a second on 78 minutes when Ustabashi found space on the left of the box and had a right foot shot saved by Taylor, but Whitehouse was on hand to tap the ball in.
And it was 3-0 on 82 minutes when a corner fell to Sampson to fire into the top left corner.
Ben Liddle nearly pulled one back with a low shot that went just wide, but tha twas taking nothing away from Chorley, who had played well
Full time 0-3
Team: Taylor, Griffiths (sub Mondal 79), Sukar, Lawlor, Hedley (sub Almond 65), Moke, Purver, (sub Liddle 65) Lambert, Hazel, Beck, Felix
Subs: Rose, Martin
Chorley: Urwin, Henley, Smith, Wilson, Nolan, Whitehouse, Calvery, Sampson, Ustabasi, Blakeman, Hall
Subs: Tomlinson, Shenton, Johnson, Scarborough
