Scunthorpe 2 Darlington 0

Goals: Smith 8 mins, 1-0, Butterfield 26 mins, 2-0

Attendance 1977 (including 148 DFC fans)

Quakers were knocked out of the FA Trophy at Scunthorpe, but at least they performed better than at Chorley on Tuesday.

They were a goal down on 8 minutes, but the players battled hard all the way through to the end of the game, and nearly scored on three occasions in the closing minutes, an encouraging sign ahead of the two league games coming up against Warrington and Rushall Olympic.

There was also a debut for Akwasi Asante, who came on for the last 15 minutes, and set up a chance for Jonny Ngandu.

Here are Josh's thoughts on the game

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-and-reaction-following-fa-trophy-exit

Quakers went a goal down on 8 minutes, when the ball was slipped through by Ross Barrows for Connor Smith to sidefoot into the bottom left hand corner.

Quakers tried to respond when Ben Hedley won possession just outside the Scunthorpe area, but his cross to the back post was too close to Fitzsimons.
Scunthorpe won a free kick about 25 yards out on 13 minutes, but Jacob Butterfield curled the ball over the top.

Quakers tried to counter attack on two occasions, but the moves broke down inside the Scunthorpe half, then Adriano Moke found Kallum Griffiths on the right, and his cross was held by Fitzsimons.
But Scunthorpe immediately broke up the left and scored a second when the ball was laid off by Smith for Jacob Butterfield to fire past Taylor from 25 yards.

Quakers won their first corner on 34 minutes, Ngandu’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Griffiths volley was blocked, and the ball looped up for Andrew Nelson to try an overhead that went wide.

Scunthorpe gained another free kick about 30 yards out on 38 minutes, but Smith curled it well over the bar.

Half time 2-0

In the second half, Will Hatfield came on as sub for Simms, and he had a shot at goal from 25 yards on 49 minutes that went over the top.

With Hatfield involved, Quakers were better on the ball and they had more possession but their hard work wasn't creating many chances.

Scunthorpe had a half chance on 63 minutes when Taylor came out of his area to head the ball clear and the ball fell for Roberts who returned the ball towards goal, but his effort went well wide.

Quakers introduced new signing Akwasi Asante for Hazel on 70 minutes, and then Cameron Salkeld came on for Moke a few minutes later.

Scunthorpe forced a couple of corners, the second of which was punched away by Taylor to safety, then Elliott sidefooted wide from a good position.

Butterfield then tried his luck from 25 yards, but Taylor got down well to hold on.
The visitors had a good last 15 minutes as they kept going. They had a chance on 83 minutes when Salkeld got down the left and his cross was only half cleared as far as Ngandu, whose effort was blocked on the line.
Then Asante held the ball up well for Ngandu to hit a right foot shot that just missed the left hand post.

Then Ngandu found Salkeld with a good ball inside, but Salkeld’s shot was blocked after he ran into the area.

Full time 

Scunthorpe 2 Darlington 0

Team: Taylor, Griffiths, Lees, Sukar, Hedley, Platt, Moke (sub Salkeld 75), Ngandu, Nelson, Simms (sub Hatfield 46), Hazel (sub Asante 70)

Subs: Winfield, Rivers, Harker,  Rowe

Booking: Moke

Scunthorpe

Fitzsimons, Kelly (sub Denton 46), Kouougun, Evans, Clunan, Roberts, Butterfield, Scales, Smith, Barrows, Whitehall (sub Elliott 58)

Subs: Chapman, Boyce, Wilson, Shrimpton, Law