Darlington 1 Gateshead 1 final

O'Donnell 21 mins, 0-1 Liddle 78 mins, 1-1

Attendance 1989

Quakers were held to a 1-1 draw in their first north east derby of the season.

They fell behind to a deflected goal in the first half, but battled back well in a game littered with stoppages. Full back Michael Liddle went up in support of his attack and coolly fired the equaliser.

Quakers started well, putting the Gateshead defence under early pressure, and the best chance they created was a shot by Adam Campbell about twelve yards out that was blocked.

Quakers had the first corner on 11 minutes, Rivers swung the ball over from the left and it was punched away by Keeper James.

They nearly scored off the second from the right hand side, when the ball came out to Will Hatfield on the edge of the box, he hit a powerful right foot shot that James held on the line.

Quakers went behind on 21 minutes, when Gateshead won possession on the left, and the ball was played inside for JJ O’Donnell to strike a left foot shot that took a deflection and went in past Elliott.

Quakers were forced into a substitution on 34 minutes when Holmes limped off and was replaced by Tyrone O’Neill.

They nearly levelled on 38 minutes when Liddle made a great run down the left and found Thompson, who cut inside, ran forward, and curled a right foot shot over James, but off the crossbar.

Within seconds, Quakers had another chance when Rivers crossed from the right for O’Neill to head just over.

Half time:

Darlington 0 Gateshead 1

Quakers were awarded a free kick for a foul on Thompson ten minutes after half time, Lees booked for the offence just outside the box. Campbell curled the ball around the wall, but into the keeper’s hands.

It was a frustrating time for Quakers though, as the game was littered with stoppages until the 67 th minute when sub Donawa played the ball into the box for Campbell to fire just over.

Quakers had a loud shout for a penalty on 70 minutes when Campbell tried to burst away and appeared to be brought down, with the assistant flagging for a free kick. However, the referee waved play on, much to everyone’s disbelief.

Quakers pressure finally told, and they levelled on 79 minutes. Campbell picked the ball up just inside the area, turned on a sixpence and crossed to the far post for Michael Liddle to control and coolly fire past the keeper.

Quakers had plenty of the game after that, but couldn't create any clear cut openings.

Team; Elliott, Trotman (sub Heaton 86), Liddle, Holness ( Donawa 66), Laing, Galbraith, Rivers, Hatfield, Campbell, Thompson, Holmes (sub O’Neill 34)

Subs:  Bascome, Watson

Booking: Laing (Foul) Hatfield foul

Gateshead: James, Nicholson, Barrow, Oliver, Lees, Williamson, Olley, Agnew, Kayode, Forbes, O’Donnell

Subs: Blackett, Guthrie, Greenfield, Nelson, Thomson