Darlington 3 FC Halifax Town 2

Darlington 3 FC Halifax Town 2

Two goals from Mark Beck and another from Josh Gillies gave Darlington a perfect homecoming against Halifax Town.

Quakers scored twice in the space of five minutes in the second half to send the Tin Shed wild, and a late Halifax consolation couldn't dampen the celebrations.

The victory capped what was a perfect day, when Darlington Football Club returned to the town.

Both teams had early free kicks that came to nothing, with Quakers kicking into a strong breeze

Quakers took the lead after 7 minutes. Phil Turnbull made a good run around the back of the Halifax defence to the bye line and with the outside of his right foot pulled the ball for Mark Beck to turn in at the far post for his tenth goal of the season. Beck was the last Darlo player to score at Heritage Park, and the first at Blackwell Meadows.

Nathan Cartman was then booked for a clash with Josh Wilde in an aerial challenge.

There was a scare for Quakers when a cross in from the right and Pete Jameson under pressure from two players, missed it, but Phil Turnbull cleared.

Halifax nearly equalised from a free kick 35 yards out. Matty Kosylo shaped as if he was going to float the ball towards the far post, but tried to catch out Jameson with a right foot shot towards the left hand side of the goal that Jameson saved.

Quakers had a chance to go 2-0 up on 28 minutes when Stephen Thompson’s free kick from the right got to the far post where Gary Brown mishit his shot to Beck, who sidefooted wide.

Halifax had another free kick 25 yards out awarded for a foul by Brown, again Kosylo tried his luck and got the ball past the wall, but Jameson saved comfortably.

Jameson made a good save on 38 minutes when Wilde moved forward and struck a left foot shot that he pushed around the post.

But Halifax levelled from the corner. David Morgan wasn’t picked up from the short corner, and he hit a right hit shot that Jameson seemed to have covered, but couldn't keep out.

Half time 1-1

Quakers got the start to the second half that they wanted.

Quakers went 2-1 up after 51 minutes.  Cartman, even though he was fouled, laid the ball off well for Galbraith to run forward and play the ball inside for Beck to latch on to and fire left footed across the keeper into the net.

Quakers scored another after 56 minutes. Galbraith’s free kick was partly cleared as far as Josh Gillies who hit a first time left foot shot that flew into the top corner from 25 yards.

The roof of the Tin Shed nearly lifted off as Quakers went for a fourth ,and they nearly got it when Gillies tried his luck afetr he cut in from the left, but Drench saved.

But Halifax weren’t to be ruled out, and Richard Peniket found space on the far side of the box and struck a powerful right foot shot that Jameson pushed round the post.

Quakers nearly got a fourth when Beck squared the ball for Gillies, who put the ball on his right foot and curled just over.

Halifax pulled one back in the last minute when Morgan chipped Jameson, who backpedalled furiously but couldn't stop the ball going over the line.

Darlington:

Jameson, Marrs, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Thompson (sub Falkingham 70), Scott, Beck, Cartman (sub Hardy 82), Gillies (sub Syers 88)

Subs: Hunter, Bell

Halifax: Drench, Roberts, Wilde, Lynch, Hotte, Hone, Kosylo (sub McDonald 56), Moyo, Denton, Morgan, Peniket (sub Simmons)

Subs: King, Barrows, Brown,

Attendance 3,000