Quakers win 2-0 at Grantham to go one point behind Blyth
By Ray Simpson
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Grantham 0 Darlington 2
This could be a dramatic turning point for Quakers after two second half goals gave them the points at Grantham.
While Stephen Thompson and Liam Hardy scored in the last 25 minutes to pick up Quakers' ninth win in the last ten games, Blyth were slipping up by 2-1 at home to Skelmersdale.
The first opening to Darlington was on 7 minutes, when Stephen Thompson picked the ball up 25 yards out and curled it towards goal, but Grantham keeper Jake Turner saved easily.
Quakers forced a couple of corners, the second of which was curled in by Adam Mitchell from the left for Gary Brown’s header to be deflected by the keeper on to the top of the net.
Another chance came to Brown, when Phil Turnbull found him with a free kick from inside the centre circle, and Brown’s header was held just under the bar by Turner.
Grantham had their first chance on 17 minutes when a breakaway saw a cross come in from the left to the far post, where Dylan Burns hit a low left foot shot that Jameson pushed around the post.
Then in Grantham’s next attack, Leandro Browne cut in from the left and struck a low right foot shot that Jameson saved at the foot of his post.
Quakers replied with a good exchange between Mitchell and Hunter, which saw Hunter get round the back of the defence, but his pull back was cut out. Still 0-0.
Quakers had a great chance on 26 minutes. Thompson won the ball against two Grantham defenders, raced into the box and fired into the six yard box, and Leon Scott couldn’t quite keep the ball down and it went over the bar.
Another chance came on 29 minutes. Despite being closed down by two defenders, Thompson managed to keep them at bay and cross into the box for Lee Gaskell, who turned quickly and hit a right foot shot straight at Turner from the edge of the area.
Terry Galbraith then tried his luck, when he moved forward from left back and hit a 25 yarder that Turner could only parry.
There was then a 10 minute delay when Grantham's Ben Harris went down and required lengthy treatment before being stretchered off.
On the restart, Thompson made a good run and set up Mitchell, but his left foot shot was saved
Half time
Grantham 0 Darlington 0
Attendance 701
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There was a near thing for Quakers at the start of the second half. Sub Jackie McGhee got away down the left – although he looked offside – and he floated a cross over to the far post that Burgess headed away.
Quakers then had a free kick from the right swung in by Galbraith but Burgess couldn't direct his header on goal.
Quakers broke through on 65 minutes. Thompson won the ball in midfield, held off two challenges, kept his balance and slotted the ball past Turner.
Blyth are losing 2-1
But Grantham nearly levelled when Danny Meadows moved up from the back and hit a blistering right foot shot that cannoned off the bar, although Jameson might just have got a touch.
At 4.44, there are 15 minutes left.
Quakers nearly got a second when Portas ran down the left into the six yard box, but his pull back was intercepted.
It was nearly 2-0 when a clearance by Turner looped high in the air back towards Armstrong, and his header was fumbled wide by the keeper.
Meanwhile, word filtered through that Blyth had lost 2-1 at home to Skelmersdale, so it was imperative that Quakers held on to their one goal lead.
There was a huge roar of relief when Quakers got their second with three minutes left. Armstrong held the ball off just inside the box for Hardy to control and slot past Turner to spark wild celebrations, even Jameson ran 70 yards to join in the celebrations.
Next game -- Skelmersdale at home on Tuesday night
Final score: Grantham 0 Darlington 2
Darlington
Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull (sub Portas 44), Burgess, Brown, Mitchell, Scott (sub Nowakowski 63), Gaskell (sub Armstrong 58), Hardy, Thompson
Subs: Cartman, Provett,
Grantham
Turner, Meadows, Storey, Hollingsworth, Harris (sub McGhee 44), Carr, Burns (sub Bilyk), Beckett, Browne, Ryan, Emmott
Subs: Bilyk, Martin, Purcicoe
Booking: Hollingsworth, Beckett
Referee: Mr I Dudley