Thanks to our match sponsors:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-match-sponsors-pretty-wild-seeds

And our matchball sponsors:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/thanks-to-our-matchball-sponsors-team-solan

Darlington 1 York City 2

Attendance 2176

Goal: Donaldson 23 mins, 0-1, 34 mins pen 0-2, Charman 62 mins, 1-2

Quakers were beaten in their local derby against York, but were left furious over the dismissal of Jake Cooper in the first half.

Cooper was shown an instant red card for a foul on Ollie Dyson when Quakers were trailing 1-0., and soon after York were awarded a penalty to give them a firm strangehold on the game.

Here's what manager Alun Armstrong had to say after the game:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/decisions-were-baffling

Former Darlington keeper Pete Jameson was given a warm round of applause as he took his position in front of the Tin Shed.

Quakers won the first corner on 4 minutes , but Will Hatfield’s inswinger was punched away by Jameson.

Luke Charman then swung the ball in from the left, but Jarrett Rivers couldn’t get much of a touch on the ball and Jameson gathered.

Rivers played a good ball into the box on 9 minutes for Cassidy to control, and his shot was blocked for a corner. George Smith swung the corner in for Rivers to get in a glancing header that went wide.

York nearly scored on 11 minutes. A long diagonal ball from Josh King at right back found Clayton Donaldson, who instantly controlled the ball, ran into the box, but sidefooted wide.

York took the lead on 23 minutes when MacKenzie Heaney put a corner from the right into the six yard box, where Donaldson forced the ball in.

Quakers then had Jake Cooper red carded for a foul on Olly Dyson as the York man moved down the right touchline – a decision that looked harsh. The ref said afterwards that Cooper was sent off for dangerous play.

York were then awarded a penalty on 35 minutes for a foul on Mark Beck, and Donaldson tucked in the spot kick for the second.

Donaldson nearly scored his hat trick when he raced clear, but put his effort over the bar.

Half time 0-2

At the start of the second half, Beck put a header well over the top from a right wing cross.

Quakers pulled a goal back on 62 minutes. Jake Cassidy flicked on a long throw by Smith from the left for Charman to turn and squeeze past Jameson.

Quakers nearly levelled two minutes later. Ben Hedley found Charman to his right, and the striker fired the ball towards the top corner from an acute angle and Jameson punched the ball away.

Charman had another chance a minute later, and again Jameson pushed the ball into the side netting.

Quakers sent on James Beauchamp for Rivers on 72 minutes, but York’s response was to break away through Willoughby, and Taylor pushed his effort away.

Quakers kept pushing hard, but they were clearly running short of energy and York nearly exploited it through Willoughby, but again Taylor saved.

Darlington 

Tommy Taylor, Hedley, Storey, Cooper, Smith, Wheatley (sub Lambert 81), Hatfield, Purver, Rivers (sub Beauchamp 72), Cassidy, Charman

Subs: Brandon Taylor, Mondal, Dos Santos

Bookings: Wheatley, Charman, Cassidy

Sending off: Cooper

York City:

Team: Jameson, Duckworth, Brown, Dyson, Woods, Donaldson, King, Heaney (sub Hopper 68), Beck, Fielding (sub Willoughby 51), Wright.

Subs: Gilchrist, Campbell, Cunningham.