AFC Telford United 0 Darlington 0

A dogged defensive display earned Quakers a point at the New Buck's Head.

Quakers had to work hard throughout the game, and limited Telford to just the one effort on target. Quakers couldn't really get going attacking-wise on a sticky, bobbly pitch, and only had a couple of chances in the game.

But at least Quakers have now kept four successive clean sheets, going into this Saturday's home game with Southport, and have lost just once in the last eleven matches.

Quakers won a free kick on the right for a foul on Reece Styche after 2 minutes, but Gillies’ setpiece was cleared.

Quakers conceded a corner at the other end when Dinanga got away down the left and crossed low, but Galbraith put the ball out of play for a corner.

Luke Trotman then found James Caton on the right with a neat pass, but the ball seemed to bobble in one of the ruts in the corner and Caton’s cross was cleared.

Telford had the first chance of the game on 13 minutes when Deeney’s free kick fell for Smith six yards out, but Pears came out quickly and blocked at his feet.

Quakers got a free kick on the right on 17 minutes that was curled in by Galbraith, and the keeper, Wilson, just managed to claw the ball away for a corner, and when Gillies flag kick came in, the keeper managed to touch the ball away from Heaton at the far post.

The game was littered with stoppages, and not really getting into any sort of rhythm.

Telford had a chance on 29 minutes when Dinanga found Deeney on the edge of the box, and he struck a left foot shot that flew just wide of the left hand post.

And they had another one on 32 minutes when Dinanga crossed for Richards to head wide from ten yards out.

Then Jordan Lussey found space 20 yards out and curled a left foot shot just wide.

A mainly scrappy first half of few chances came to a close.

Half time

Telford 0 Darlington 0

Quakers made a sub at half time, with Harvey Saunders, who has just had a week's trial at Barnsley, replacing the injured Reece Styche.

Telford got a free kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box in a central position at the start of the second half when Dinanga went down when he was challenged , but Henry Cowans fired tamely into the wall.

Telford had a half chance when Dinanga’s cross was cleared to Deeney 20 yards out, and he mishit his volley well wide.

Quakers made their second sub on 65 minutes, Leon Scott coming on for James Caton.

Telford continued to have more of the pressure, but couldn’t get close enough to Pears’ goal because of how protected he was by his defence. The keeper was happy to gather a couple of right wing crosses, while Josh Heaton and Terry Galbraith won most balls in the air, and full backs Luke Trotman and Ben O'Hanlon did plenty of closing down on the flanks.

Quakers broke away on 71 minutes when Gillies found Saunders bursting clear, but keeper Wilson came racing out of his area and cleared.

Telford had a loud penalty shout when Richards got away from Heaton and went down on the six yard line, but the referee waved their appeals away, much to the annoyance of the crowd.

Telford went close on 84 minutes when the ball was chipped in from the right, and Richards was inches away from connecting at the far post.

But Quakers kept battling away , and in stoppage time Wheatley sent a rightfooted free kick just wide from 25 yards

Full time 0-0

Attendance 1318, a good 200 from Darlo

Pears, Trotman, O'Hanlon, Turnbull, Heaton, Galbraith, Gillies, Wheatley, Styche (sub Saunders 46) , Caton (sub Scott 65), Thompson

subs: Bancroft, Glover, Vaulks

Booking: Wheatley, Heaton, Gillies

Telford:  Wilson, White, Harris, Smith, Sutton, Deeney, Lussey (Giles 83), Cowans, Richards (sub Murphy 90), Dinanga (sub Marsden 79), Newby

Subs: Johnson, Singh,

Bookings: Deeney, Richards