Jake earns point for Quakers -- but it could have been more
By Ray Simpson
Can Quakers bounce back?
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Darlington 1 Leamington 1
Attendance 1255
Goals: May 27 mins, 0-1, Lawlor 64 mins 1-1
A second half goal by Jake Lawlor earned Quakers a point against Leamington -- but it could so easily have been more.
Quakers created some good chances, but couldn't finish them after the defender had scored his second goal of the season.
The tale of missed chances was just like the game at Buxton last Tuesday night, and leaves Quakers in fourth place in the table.
Here's Alun's reaction to the result:
https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/it-was-a-real-midfield-battle
Quakers had their first chance on 6 minutes, when Ben Hedley and Jack Lambert both had shots blocked, and the ball ran for Mark Beck, who at full stretch found the side netting.
Leamington replied with a curling free kick by Devon Kelly-Evans from 25 yards, which went a yard of wide of the left hand post.
The visitors had another chance when Kelly-Evans curled a free kick into the box, and Rhakeem Reid’s header landed on the roof of the net.
Quakers had a chance on 17 minutes when Joe Leesley’s free kick into the box dropped for Jake Lawlor, but he couldn’t direct his shot on target.
They had another opportunity on 20 minutes when Jack Lambert robbed a defender in the area, beat another defender, but his shot was blocked by Callum Hawkins.
Quakers gained a corner on 23 minutes with a good ball into the box by Leesley for Dodds, who did well to keep the ball in, and the ball was scrambled away for a corner that was punched clear by Hawkins.
Leamington took the lead against the run of play on 27 minutes when a ball forward was flicked on into the Darlington box, where Dodds clearance rebounded off Simeon May and went past Tommy Taylor.
Quakers nearly went 2-0 down when Reid just got to the ball ahead of Taylor just inside the area, and Jake Lawlor, covering behind, headed off the line.
Quakers tried to reply, and Leesley’s cross from the left took a slight deflection but still went to Beck, who couldn’t get a header on target.
Another good ball from Leesley found Dodds round the back of the defence on the right and his lay off found Felix, whose shot was blocked.
Half time 0-1
Leamington had the first chance of the second half when Reid put May through, but Taylor blocked with his legs.
Quakers replied with a corner on 53 minutes . The ball was curled in from the right by Leesley for Beck to have a header blocked, but he put the rebound inches over the top.
There was a scramble inside the Leamington box on 58 minutes, which ended with Leesley heading just wide.
Jacob Hazel then came on for Danny Rose, , and he got round the back of the defence on 61 minutes, and his low cross was parried away by Hawkins before a defender hacked the ball away.
Quakers levelled after 64 minutes. Leesley’s inswinging corner was punched away by the keeper, only for Hazel to nod the ball back into the six yard box for Felix to have an effort blocked, and then Lawlor put the ball into the roof of the net, his second goal of the season
Dodds nearly put Quakers into the lead with a good run down the right, and his shot was deflected out for a corner.
Hazel then had a half chance, with a header as he was going away from goal off a right wing cross.
Hedley then found Leesley on the left, and his floated cross was headed just wide by Beck.
Quakers nearly took the lead on 77 minutes.
A great ball forward by Sukar was picked up by Hazel, and his low cross was diverted narrowly wide by Lambert.
Then a great crossfield ball by Leesley found Dodds charging forward, and his effort was saved by Hawkins.
After some frantic defending in their own box, Quakers had a penalty appeal at the other end when Hazel went to ground, but the referee waved play on.
In stoppage time, Hazel helped the ball on for Felix, whose shot went straight at Hawkins.
Team: Taylor, Dodds, Lawlor, Sukar, Hedley, Moke, Rose (sub Hazel 58), Lambert, Leesley (Purver 90), Beck, Felix
Subs: Liddle, Rivers, Barbosa
Leamington:
Hawkins, Meredith, Hall, Clarke, Streete, Lane, Usher-Shipway (sub Hewlett 74), Maye, Reid (suCook 79, Walker, Kelly-Evans
Suibs: Cook, English, Mace, Slater
Booking: Walker
