Darlington 2 Grantham 0

Two goals in the first 25 minutes gave Quakers the points against Grantham, but their hopes of lifting the title trophy after the game were dashed by Blyth's 3-0 win over Rushall Olympic.

Quakers now go to Whitby on Thursday night looking for a win to give them the title ahead of Blyth, although a point could be enough on goal difference. Quakers have passed a century of points, but haven't won the league yet.

The first real attack of the game came from Grantham’s Dylan Burns, who made a good 30 yard run, but his final shot didn’t have enough power to trouble Jameson.

Quakers took the lead on 11 minutes, Lee Gaskell sent Liam Hardy running clear, and even though the striker had two shots blocked, Leon Scott followed up and turned the ball home!!

[caption id="attachment_21046" align="alignnone" width="300"] Leon Scott scores[/caption]

Quakers thought they’d been awarded a penalty for a handball offence when Gaskell crossed from the right, but changed his mind on his assistant’s advice, and gave a free kick instead, which Terry Galbraith curled around the wall but into the keeper’s hands.

Quakers scored their second on 24 minutes, when Chris Hunter made a great run down the right past two challenges, and drilled the ball into the middle where Amar Purewal turned the ball home.

It was nearly 3-0 when Galbraith floated a free kick over from the right for Kevin Burgess to head just wide,

Half time

Darlington 2 Grantham 0

Galbraith emerged for the second half with his head bandaged.

In the second half, Grantham threatened when Stefan Galinski headed straight at Jameson, then Gary Brown made a good saving tackle on Leandro Browne.

Darlington sub Graeme Armstrong nearly scored with his first touch, getting his head to a Chris Hunter free kick but Turner saved easily.

Leon Scott then moved forward but put his shot over.

Quakers nearly got the third when Burgess cannoned a header off the crossbar from a Galbraith corner, , then Thompson was narrowly wide with a low shot from the edge of the box

Burgess was again unlucky to see another header go just off target, as Quakers comfortably held on for the three points.

So now it's off to Whitby on Thursday night -- see you there!

Final score: Darlington 2 Grantham 0

Attendance 1,734

Team: Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Portas (sub Weldon 85), Burgess, Brown, Purewal, Scott, Hardy (sub Cartman 65), Gaskell (sub Armstrong 61), Thompson

Subs: Provett, Mitchell, Weldon

Grantham

Turner, Meadows, Emmott, Hollingsworth, Galinski, Carr, Burns (McGhee 63), Lewis, Ryan, Browne, Beckett.

Subs: Towers, Farmer, Martin

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