Becky's hat trick puts Quakers into the next round

By Ray Simpson

Sep 17, 2022

Becky's hat trick puts Quakers into the next round

The start of the FA Cup trail

Darlington 3 Southport 2

Attendance 1088

Scorers: Watson (6 mins, 0-1) Beck pen (8 mins, 1-1), Walton (13 mins, 1-2), Beck (55 mins 2-2), Beck (79 mins 3-2)

We'd like to thank today's match sponsor:

https://yourclub.darlingtonfc.co.uk/

We'd also like to thank Cleveland Containers

https://www.clevelandcontainers.co.uk/

and our friends from EBAC
https://www.ebac.com/

A hat trick by Mark Beck put Quakers into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Beck became the first Darlington player to score a hat trick at Blackwell Meadows, the first to score a home hat trick in seven years (Adam Mitchell in 2015) and the first to score a hat trick in an FA Cup tie for 22 years(Glenn Naylor 2000).

But Quakers had to come from behind twice to go through against their National League North rivals.

Here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-darlington-v-southport-available-now

And here's Alun's reaction:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/alun-happy-to-avoid-cup-replay

And Becky's reaction:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/beck-nets-first-career-hattrick

Quakers will now be in the draw for the third qualifying round on Tuesday lunchtime.

Southport took the lead with the first corner of the game on 6 minutes.

They packed the six yard box with players, the corner was flicked on at the near post, and Niall Watson scored with a stooping header at the far post.

Quakers were awarded a penalty though a minute later when Kaine Felix burst into the box on the end of a clever Diogo Barbosa through ball and was fouled by Southport defender Michael Carberry, who was red carded. Mark Beck stepped up sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot for his seventh goal of the season, tucking the ball into the right hand corner.

Mark Beck scores the first from the spot (Steve Halliday)

Southport went back in front on 13 minutes. A cross came in from the right hand side that Tyler Walton headed against the post, but he was the first to react and poke the ball past the stranded Tommy Taylor.

Quakers tried to hit back, and a right wing cross by Kallum Griffiths was cleared by a defender only as far as Felix, who blazed a shot well wide.

Diogo Barbosa showed when he played a 1-2 with Beck about 25 yards out, and hit a left foot shot just over the top.

Jack Lambert created a half chance for himself on 24 minutes when he twisted and turned 25 yards away from goal to find space, but his low shot went just past the left hand post.

Quakers were denied by a great save on 27 minutes. Griffiths crossed from the right for Beck to meet the ball with a firm downward header that McMillan managed to push away one-handed to his right.

Lambert cleverly tricked his way past two defenders in the box on 36 minutes, and tried to beat the keeper at his near post, but McMillan saved with his feet.

Half time 1-2

Quakers got an early corner in the second half, but Griffiths’ setpiece went over everyone in the area.

Quakers had a left off when there was some indecision in their defence, and Jassem Sukar’s clearance glanced off his own crossbar, but the referee awarded a goal kick

From another Darlington corner, Beck got his head to the ball and it dropped for Griffiths to have a shot blocked for another corner.

That also came out to Griffiths, whose effort was headed away by a defender, who needed treatment.

Quakers levelled from the corner that followed on 55 minutes. Lambert drove the ball to the far post, where Beck towered above two defenders to head in.

It was nearly 3-2 to Quakers when a defensive clearance fell to Danny Rose, who hit a left foot shot just over the top.

But Southport nearly scored when Watson dribbled his way into the box, and even though he had several players around him, got his toe to the ball and Griffiths cleared off the line.

Quakers nearly scored during a round of applause for the late Queen on 70 minutes, when Hedley’s right foot shot was fumbled by McMillan, who grabbed the ball at the second attempt.

Lambert set up a half chance on 74 minutes. He set off on a mazy run and played the ball into the box for sub Jacob Hazel, who was denied by McMillan diving at his feet.

Beck had a chance for his hat trick on 77 minutes when Griffiths crossed from the right to him about twelve yards out, but he glanced the ball wide.

Quakers took the lead on 79 minutes. Lambert dribbled into the box on the left, and hit a powerful shot that the keeper could only parry, and Beck nodded the loose ball home. He became the first player to score a hat trick at home for seven years, and the first Darlington player to score a hat trick at Blackwell Meadows.