Darlington 1 Southport 0

Goal: McGowan 18 mins, 1-0

Attendance 1430

Thanks to our matchball sponsor, Jesso the goalkeeper.

Southport made their early intentions clear, with a long throw by Jack Doyle which the Quakers defence dealt with.

Southport had the first attempt at goal on 4 minutes, a 25 yarder by Callum Spooner which Pete Jameson held on to.

Quakers replied with a hopeful high cross by Maskell from the right that Renshaw pushed over the bar. From the corner, Maskell claimed that he was impeded in the area, but the referee waved play on.

Quakers were forced into a sub on 9 minutes when Levi Andoh went down with a thigh knock, so Cameron Salkeld replaced him -- yet another injury.

When Southport made progress down their left and crossed into the middle, Will Flint was back to head the ball away.

Quakers took the lead on 18 minutes, and what a goal it was. Debutant Will McGowan picked the ball up in midfield, got past a defender to the edge of the area, and hit a left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Quakers missed a chance for a second when a poor clearance by the keeper fell for Cornish, and with the Southport defence in disarray, Cornish played the ball to Maskell who was adjudged offside.

Southport nearly levelled on 29 minutes when Danny Lloyd found space 25 yards out and struck a left foot shot that went just past the left hand post.

Quakers replied with a crossfield run by Mattie Cornish, who set up Scott Barrow to have a right foot shot blocked.

The game was quite scrappy after that because of the bobbly pitch until McGowan got the ball on the left from Maskell, cut inside, and hit a right foot shot that Renshaw saved at full stretch.

Quakers got a free kick just on half time which Leesley put into the middle, but the Southport defence headed the ball away

Half time: Darlington 1 Southport 0

Southport put the Darlington defence under pressure at the start of the second half, but they kept their shape well and kept the visitors out.

Southport got a corner on 49 minutes which the defence comfortably dealt with.

Quakers won a free kick just outside the area on the right on 55 minutes,  but Leesley’s free kick was held by Renshaw at the far post.

Quakers had a chance on 59 minutes when a Leesley headed a right wing cross square for Will Hatfield to hit on the turn, but unfortunately straight at the keeper.

Team: Jameson, Evans, Lees, Barrow, Andoh (sub Salkeld 9 mins), Leesley, Hatfield, Flint, Cornish, McGowan, Maskell

Subs: Nelson, Payne, Small, Rivers

Southport@ Renshaw, Doyle, Spooner, Knight-Percival, Lloyd-McGoldrick, Carver, Quansah, Keane, Carroll-Burgess, Minihan, Philiskirk

Subs: Thomson, Morgan, Proctor, Moore, Russ