Spennymoor Town 1 Darlington 2

Goals: Chandler 2 mins (1-0), Styche 23 mins, (1-1), Tait og 59 mins, (1-2)

Darlington came from behind to record their fifth away win of the season with an excellent display at the Brewery Field.

Quakers recovered from a second minute goal against them with a very good team performance, with several players outstanding.

Former Darlo player Jamie Chandler gave Moors the lead, but Reece Styche charged through to score the equaliser, then a delicate Stephen Thompson through ball was headed over his own keeper by former Darlo centre half Joe Tait.

1-0 Moors took the lead in the second minute. Quakers didn’t clear a left wing free kick, and the ball was laid by Rob Ramshaw for former Darlo player Jamie Chandler to drive into the bottom corner of the net past a helpless Aynsley Pears.

Moors gained a corner on 7 minutes, Anderson drove the ball in from the right for Joe Tait to fire over the top. At this point, Moors were stretching the Darlington defence and causing problems.

Quakers gained their second corner on 12 minutes, but Gillies setpiece went over everyone in the middle, and then a free kick from wide out on the right by Phil Turnbull was headed away by James Curtis.

Quakers nearly levelled on 18 minutes, when Styche outpaced Curtis on the right and drove the ball into the box, where Moors defender Griffiths deflected the ball just wide of his own goal.

From Gillies corner that was swung over to the far post, Galbraith couldn’t get his header on target.

Moors hit back, with Tait heading into Pears’ hands from a left wing corner, then Glen taylor had a good chance deflected over the bar.

1-1 Quakers levelled on 23 minutes. Thompson helped on a long clearance for Styche to latch onto, outpaced Curtis, and fired across Lowson into the net for his 13^th goal for Quakers.

Wheatley was booked for a foul on Griffiths on 36 minutes which prompted a scuffle that ended with Styche and Ramshaw getting booked as well.

Quakers had a chance to go 2-1 up when good footwork by Syers in the box saw him set up the supporting Wheatley, who dragged his right foot shot wide of the left hand post.

Half time 1-1

Thompson made a good run down the right at the start of the second half and put it in a teasing cross that was just too high for Styche in the middle.

1-2 Quakers took the lead on 59 minutes. Thompson won the ball on the right, then dinked the ball forwards towards Styche. Tait seemed to have it covered, but he nodded the ball over the advancing Lowson’s head into the net.

Quakers made a sub on 63 minutes, Gary Brown coming on for David Syers, and going to right back, with Portas pushing up to midfield.

They made two more subs on 73 minutes, with Portas going off and Caton coming on, and Styche going off for Saunders.

Quakers had a chance for a third when Thompson won the ball in midfield, looked up and curled a low right foot shot towards the bottom corner, and Lowson just managed to fingertip it around the post.

With Quakers soaking up the pressure well, Pears only had a couple of saves to make near the end, one from a header by Fewster, and they held on for the fifth away win of the season.

Final score:

Spennymoor 1 Darlington 2

Attendance 1661

Spennymoor:

Lowson, Griffiths, Chantler (sub Curry 46), Chandler, Tait, Curtis, Ramshaw (sub Fewster 73), Henry, Taylor, Anderson (sub Hall 62), Johnson

Subs: Lowe, Porter

Bookings: Ramshaw, Taylor

Pears, Portas (sub Caton 73), Heaton, Galbraith, O’Hanlon: Turnbull, Wheatley; Thompson, Syers (sub Brown 62), Gillies; Styche (sub Saunders 73)

Subs: Glover, Bancroft

Bookings: Wheatley, Styche, Portas