Darlington 4 Scunthorpe United 0

Goals: Salkeld 16 mins, 1-0, Main 31 mins, 2-0, Salkeld 45 mins, 3-0, Cornish 61 mins, 4-0

Attendance 1802

We'd like to thank our match sponsors, Atkinsons Coaches

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and our matchball sponsors, the Darl Knight

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Fantastic Quakers recorded their fourth successive win on a night to remember at Blackwell Meadows.

Quakers outclassed promotion chasing Scunthorpe in a thrilling first half, which saw them lead 3-0 at half time with goals by Cameron Salkeld (2) and Cedric Main, then Matty Cornish added a fourth in the second half.

The result means that Quakers climb out of the bottom three, and are level on points with King’s Lynn, and a point behind Rushall. The win has dragged Blyth into the relegation dogfight, as they are just three ahead.

Quakers and the Iron had played each other twice already this season, with Scunthorpe winning 4-0 in the league and 2-0 in the Trophy, so victory tasted even sweeter for Quakers. This win was as one-sided as Scunthorpe's early season 4-0 win.

It was the seventh victory in 13 matches under manager Steve Watson, in which time they have doubled their points tally for the season.

Here are the goals, plus reaction from Steve Watson and two goal hero Cameron Salkeld.

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-from-win-over-scunthorpe

Quakers had a chance after 4 minutes. Ben Hedley played the ball up the line to Matty Cornish, who made a good run to the edge of the area and laid the ball back for Andrew Nelson to have a shot saved by Scunthorpe keeper Ross Fitzsimons.

Scunthorpe had their first real chance after 7 minutes when Kian Scales found space to run forward and have a shot saved low down by Matty Young.

Kallum Griffiths then won the ball on the halfway line with a good challenge and found Cedric Main, who hit a low right foot shot that Fitzsimons saved low down to his right.

There was another chance on 11 minutes when the Scunthorpe defence headed a through ball away that Salkeld picked up, ran forward and fired over the top.

Quakers deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes. Will Hatfield crossed from the left to the far post, where Tom Platt nodded the ball down for Salkeld and take a touch and fire past Fitzsimons from ten yards out, his fourth goal of the season.

It was nearly 2-0 when Scott Barrow curled a free kick from the corner of the box just over the top.

Barrow was involved in another free kick out on the right on 23 minutes, and his left footed inswinger went over the outstretched fingertips of Fitzsimons, but just past the far post.

Main then won possession in midfield and burst forward, but pulled his left foot shot wide.

And it was deservedly 2-0 on 32 minutes. Hedley hoisted the ball forward into the Scunthorpe box, Main gave chase and held off two defenders, won the ball, kept his balance and slotted the ball past Fitzsimons, for his second goal for the club.

After being pushed back for a spell but defending well, Quakers nearly got a third on 42 minutes when Salkeld played a 1-2 with Main, and from a tight angle, fired into the side netting.

Amazingly, it was 3-0 on 45 minutes. Griffiths found Nelson in space down the right, and he squared the ball for Salkeld to take a touch and steer into the net!

It had been a fantastic first half for Quakers, and they fully deserved the ovation from the fans when they walked off at half time.

Half time Darlington 3 Scunthorpe 0

Scunthorpe forced a corner at the start of the second half which Quakers managed to clear at the near post, as the visitors started with some early pressure.

Quakers relieved the pressure with a break down the left by Nelson, who found Main. He reached the edge of the box before mishitting a right foot shot straight at Fitzsimons.

The game was over when the score became 4-0 on 61 minutes. Griffiths hoisted another ball towards the Scunthorpe defence, Main took control as Scuthorpe failed to get the ball away, and then he laid the ball off for Cornish to turn past Fitzsimons off the inside of the post. Cornish’s second goal in as many games to the huge roars of the Tin Shed!

Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men on 74 minutes when Boyce was shown a straight red when he pulled down Nelson as he turned him on the edge of the area. At first, Quakers thought they had been awarded a penalty and Salkeld grabbed the ball, but the referee awarded a free kick instead.

Quakers then made two subs, Hatfield and Cornish going off, Jonny Ngandu and Hayden Lindley replacing them, and they comfortably saw the game out after that.

The final whistle was met with a huge roar and a standing ovation from the fans.

Team: Young, Griffiths, Lees, Barrow, Hedley, Platt, Hatfield (sub Ngandu 75), Cornish (sub Lindley 75), Salkeld (sub Curry 84), Nelson, Main

Subs: Taylor, Lawlor

Scunthorpe:

Fitzsimons, Ogle, Denton, Evans, Boyce,Beestin, Butterfield (sub Clunan 60), Scales, Sembie-Ferris, McAlinden (sub Elliott 60), Whitehall

Subs: Kelly, Pugh, Barrows

Booking: Evans

Sending off: Boyce