Darlington 1 Southport 0

Scorer: Cassidy 34 mins, 1-0

Attendance 1252

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Jake Cassidy's fifth goal of the season gave Quakers victory over Southport at the third time of asking.

Cassidy struck in the first half, but Quakers could have won by more, as Kevin Dos Santos missed a second half penalty, and Southport keeper Cameron Mason pulled off several good saves.

When he was called upon in the second half, Darlington keeper Tommy taylor made two very good saves.

Quakers had an early shot from Cameron Thompson on the edge of the box charged down.
Southport nearly took the lead on 6 minutes. Dylan Vassalo curled a corner over from the right, and Adam Anson struck the bar from a couple of yards.
Danny Ellis, who was made skipper following the departre of Will Hatfield, headed a second corner away.
Quakers created a chance on 9 minutes when Jack Lambert played the ball in for Cameron Thompson, who quickly swivelled and fired over the top.

Quakers had a half chance on 19 minutes when Ben Hedley’s cross was punched away by the keeper as far as Lambert, whose left foot shot was off target.
Lambert nearly scored on 21 minutes when he broke up the left hand side, and from the corner of the box tried to curl the ball towards the top corner, but it drifted a yard or two wide.

A good four man move ended with Lambert, on the right this time, putting in a low cross that Cameron Mason saved at full stretch.
Lambert then found Thompson with a good pass inside the box, and Thompson’s shot was deflected into the side netting.

And there was another chance on 32 minutes when Cassidy crossed into the box for Thompson to head just wide, although Mason seemed to get a touch.
Quakers took a deserved lead on 34 minutes. Cassidy received a pass from Purver with his back to goal, turned quickly, and fired right footed into the bottom corner for his first goal since November and his fifth of the season.

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty on 37 minutes when Moke went down under a challenge in the box, but the referee waved play on.
Lambert was involved again on 41 minutes when he beat his man on the left, crossed to the far post where Ellis headed wide.

It was nearly 2-0 on the stroke of half time. Thompson found Lambert with a short pass just inside the area, and he struck a low left foot shot that Mason saved well at the foot of the post.

Half time 1-0

At the start of the second half, Hedley had a shot blocked after a corner was cleared to him, then Moke fired at Mason from the edge of the box.
Moke then put Lambert through, but Mason smothered his shot, and Lambert was again denied by a great block after Dos Santos set him up.
Jake Lawlor was just off target from a Lambert free kick.
Southport threatened on 58 minutes with a free kick by Josh Hmami that Taylor palmed over the bar, then Taylor went full length to save a header from Tyler Walton.

A Lambert free kick was blocked, but Moke played the ball out to the left for Cassidy to put a curling shot just side of the right hand post.

Quakers had another great chance on 71 minutes when a great flick by Cassidy put Dos Santos through, but Mason pushed his shot away.

After a frantic scramble in the six yard box, Quakers were awarded a penalty when Dos Santos was brought down.
However, Mason pulled off a good save low down to his right to deny Dos Santos – the second successive game in which Quakers have missed a penalty.

Southport replied with a shot by Walton that Taylor saved down to his left.
Quakers picked up the pace of the game again. Cassidy had run and a shot charged down, and Lambert had another effort tipped over by Mason.

Taylor, Hedley, Ellis (capt), Lawlor, Smith, Moke, Purver,  Dos Santos (sub Rose 90+2), Lambert  Thompson (Mondal 90+3), Cassidy

Subs: Storey, Rivers, O'Neill,

Booking: Lambert

Southport:

Mason, Oliver, J Doyle, Anson, Archer, Walton, C Doyle, Hmami (sub Woods 61), Vassalo, Watson (sub Munro 61), Bainbridge

Subs: Benjamin, Woods, Munro, Newell, McMillan-Snelson

Booking: Oliver