Quakers go down at Rushall
By Ray Simpson
.Rushall Olympic 1 Darlington 0Quakers lost for only their eight time in the league this season to a...
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Rushall Olympic 1 Darlington 0
Quakers lost for only their eight time in the league this season to a first half goal.
But no Quaker fan could begrudge Quakers an off day after a superb season, which was capped by that memorable 7-1 win at Whitby on Thursday night.
Nevertheless, Quakers still finish five points ahead of Blyth, who lost 2-1 at home to Marine, and they equal the league points tally of 104 points achieved by Burton Albion in 2002.
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The first shot at goal in the game was from former Darlington midfielder Kris Taylor, who hit a first time volley from 25 yards that Peter Jameson saved at full stretch.
Quakers nearly took the lead on 10 minutes when a throw by Adam Mitchell was flicked on by Gary Brown to Leon Scott, who fired into the side netting.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the game isn't as intense as Thursday's night's. 20 minutes gone here, 0-0. On Thursday it was 5-0.
Quakers had another half chance when Mitchell crossed from the right, keeper Kieran Preston missed his punch, but Gary Brown couldn’t direct his header on target.
Rushall took the lead on 36 minutes. A corner from the right was headed across at the far post for Gavin Caines to head in.
Half time
Rushall Olympic 1 Darlington 0.
Quakers had the first chance of the second half, when Scott controlled the ball 25 yards out, ran forward, and hit a left foot shot over the top.
Quakers had their best chance so far on 50 minutes when Scott played Stephen Thompson in, but Thompson’s shot was blocked well by Preston.
Luke Benbow volleyed into the Quakers net from a free kick on 63 minutes, but was flagged offside.
A poor goal kick by Preston went straight to sub Lee Gaskell 30 yards out, he ran on and tried to lob Preston, but his effort went wide.
Quakers nearly levelled on 69 minutes when Galbraith crossed from the left for Brown to head into the six yard box where Amar Purewal put in a glancing header that was cleared off the line.
And Purewal had another chance with ten minutes left when he won a challenge on the edge of the box, and the ball dropped invitingly for him, but he couldn’t keep the ball down with his effort, and it went over the bar.
Final score Rushall Olympic 1 Darlington
Darlington
Jameson, A Mitchell, Weldon (D Mitchell 67), Galbraith, White, Brown, Portas, Scott, Armstrong (sub Gaskell 45), Cartman, Thompson (sub Purewal 56)
Subs: Hardy, Provett
Booking: Scott, Portas