Leamington 0 Darlington 1

Goal: Mondal 55 mins, 0-1

A well-taken second half goal from Junior Mondal gave Quakers the points, and put them into joint seventh place in the table, level with Southport.

Quakers have lost just once in ten matches, and are gathering momentum at the right time.

It wasn't a great game on a poor pitch, which meant that passing football was just about impossible, so the ball spent a lot of time in the air.

And when the ball was in the air in the Darlington half, it was invariably won by Danny Ellis and Jake Lawlor, who were towers of strength in the Darlington defence.

Quakers fashioned a chance on 5 minutes. Kevin Dos Santos headed on a bouncing ball for Mondal, who controlled the ball well on a bobbly pitch and struck a low left foot shot that Hawkins saved at the foot of his post.

Mondal then played a good reverse pass to Dos Santos who fired across the face of goal.

Leamington were awarded a free kick about 35 yards out that Devon Kelly-Evans fired into the wall, and from the break, Jack Lambert won a corner at the other end, which came to nothing.

Cassidy won the ball about 30 yards out and set up Junior Mondal, who ran forward and struck a powerful left foot shot straight at the keeper.

Leamington had their first chance on 16 minutes when Jack Edwards headed a right wing cross over the crossbar.

A high clearance from Lawlor which took a bounce on a bobbly pitch caused a problem for the Leamington defence, and Hawkins just managed to grab the ball.

Danny Rose pulled up injured on 32 minutes, so Alex Purver replaced him.

Ellis made a good headed clearance from a dangerous right wing cross on 37 minutes.

A miskick by Hawkins gave Quakers a corner on 40 minutes, but Lambert’s flag kick went beyond the far post.

Ben Hedley won a corner in stoppage time, but the ball was headed away.

The first half had been pretty short on quality, but Quakers created more chances.

Half time:

Leamington 0 Darlington 0

Leamington had a chance straight after the resumption. A long clearance found Edwards behind the back of the Darlington defence, and his low shot was blocked by Taylor.

Quakers had a great chance on 51 minutes. Cassidy headed down a deep Taylor free kick for Mondal to half volley wide of the right hand post.

Quakers took the lead on 55 minutes. Ellis won the ball, found Adriano Moke who moved the ball on to Lambert, and he chipped a lovely ball through for Mondal to control with his first touch and he hit a left foot shot past Hawkins into the net, his third goal of the season.

The home side nearly levelled on 63 minutes. Full back Dan Meredith picked up the ball up 30 yards out, looked up, and hit a right foot shot that cannoned off the crossbar.

Quakers threatened from another free kick, that Cassidy headed down for Dos Santos to fire over the top.

And then a minute later, Moke set up Cassidy, who curled a shot into the keeper’s hands from the edge of the box.

Leamington got a free kick just outside the box for a dubious foul by Hedley on 74 minutes, but Dan Meredith curled the ball over the top.

Sub Nathan Lowe and Dos Santos played a 1-2 up the left that ended with Lowe’s cross being cut out at the near post.

Quakers had a nervous moment when Lawlor sliced his clearance high in the air, and Walker fired left footed over the top.

Griffiths then went down injured, and had to be replaced by Smith as Leamington asserted pressure, but with Ellis heading everything away Quakers held on for a great win.

Full time 

Leamington 0 Darlington 1

Team: Taylor, Griffiths (sub Smith 90+1), Ellis, Lawlor, Hedley, Moke, Rose (sub Purver 33) , Dos Santos, Lambert (sub Lowe 70 mins), Mondal, Cassidy.

Subs: Storey, Smith, McHale

Hawkins, Meredith, Morley, Clarke (sub Gittings), Mace, Lane, Parker (sub Williams 78), Walker, English, Edwards, Evans.

Subs: Gittings, Bushaj, Taylor, Weaver

Booking: English, Clarke, Edwards, Walker