Darlington 3 Tamworth 2

Darlington are now up to fifth in the table thanks to an excellent display at home to Tamworth.

Quakers played some very good football, with manager Martin Gray hailing the third goal, score by Nathan Cartman, as one of the goals of the season.

Quakers took the lead after 5 minutes, when Gary Brown threw the ball in long from the left touchline, and Galbraith rose high to head the ball past Jezeph for his 10^th goal of the season.

Quakers forced a corner on 12 minutes, that was swung over to the far post by Galbraith, and keeper Jezeph just managed to claw the ball away.

But Tamworth equalised on 13 minutes. Dan Newton picked up a long ball from Jezeph, held off Brown, and beat Bartlett with a low left foot shot.

Quakers could have regained the lead on 18 minutes, when Beck helped the ball on for Thompson eight yards out, but he pulled his effort wide, although there was the suspicion of a bobble as he hit it.

Tamworth’s Reece Styche tried his luck with a right foot from 25 yards, but Bartlett saved comfortably to his left.

Quakers replied with a good run by Thompson down the right, he crossed to the edge of the penalty area from where Gillies volleyed over.

Quakers nearly went back in front on 30 minutes. A deep corner kick by Galbraith went over to the far post, it was missed by Jezeph, but Brown, from a tight angle, could only find the side netting.

Quakers caused more chaos from a setpiece, and this time Gillies had a shot blocked, and Gillies had another effort saved from the edge of the box by Jezeph.

Quakers had another chance on 38 minutes when Thompson again made a good run and pulled the ball back for Syers, whose low right foot shot was well save by Jezeph

Quakers deservedly went 2-1 up on 40 minutes. Hunter’s cross from the right was cleared only as far as Thompson, who controlled the ball on his chest, and then neatly volleyed across the keeper into the top corner for his eighth league goal of the season.

 Half time

Darlington 2 Tamworth 1

At the start of the second half it was nearly 3-1 when Syers burst into the box and set up Beck, whose left shot was well saved by Jezeph.

And in Quakers next attack from the left, Gillies played a 1-2 with Syers, and Jezeph was in the right place on the line to hold on to the ball

Quakers went 3-1 up on 53 minutes with a well worked goal. Syers cleverly backheel the ball to send Galbraith running into the box. He found Nathan Cartman, who played a good 1-2 with Beck and tucked the ball into the bottom corner.

Tamworth nearly pulled one back from a corner, that was headed wide by Luke Jones from six yards out..

Tamworth pulled a goal back on 67 minutes when a low corner came in from the right, and Ross Dyer, on the corner of the six yard box, flicked the ball past Bartlett.

Tamworth nearly equalised when Brandon Fox turned on the corner of the box and curled a right foot shot towards the top corner, and Bartlett just managed to fingertip the ball over the top.

Quakers nearly went 4-2 up on 73 minutes, with Thompson very unlucky not to score. He picked the ball up inside his own half, ran at the Tamworth defence to the edge of the box where he had a shot charged down – Quakers appealed for handball in vain – but he kept possession, lobbed the keeper, but the ball struck the crossbar.

Another chance came along on 80 minutes when Cartman played the ball into the box for Syers to volley towards goal, but Jezeph saved at full stretch above his head

Attendance 1694

Bartlett, Hunter, Ferguson, Turnbull, Galbraith, Brown, Thompson (sub Scott 90), Syers, Beck, Cartman (sub Saunders 90), Gillies (sub Wearmouth 75).

Subs: Wilczinski, Marrs

Tamworth

Jezeph, Burns, Morley, Deeney, jones, Lane, Taylor, Ben Fox, Newton, Styche, Dyer

Subs: Green, Brandon Fox,  Clarke, Davies, Powell