Whitby Town 2 Darlington 1

Goals: Hazel (11 mins, 1-0) Cassidy (18 mins, 1-1), Hazel (67 mins, 2-1)

Attendance 477.

Quakers lost their final pre-season friendly at Whitby's Towbar Express Stadium.

Quakers created several good chances in a very good opening to the game, in which Kevin Dos Santos caused all sorts of problems with his trickery for the Whitby defence.

But after a good first half, Quakers faded in the second.

Midfielder Alex Purver fitted in at centre half because of an injury to Alex Storey.

Quakers nearly scored with their first attack down the left. Kevin Dos Santos got round the back on the left and crossed for Jarrett Rivers, who couldn’t get his shot on target, then Luke Charman turned quickly in Quakers’ next attack and fired left footed over the top.

Quakers got a corner on 4 minutes, Whitby couldn’t get the ball away and Jake Cassidy couldn’t get enough power on his header for Shane Bland to save easily.

Cassidy was denied by a great save from Bland on 5 minutes when the Whitby defence missed a long ball forward, and his low left foot shot was well saved by Bland.

Whitby went close with a curling free kick by Lewis Suddick from the edge of the box that found the side netting.

Whitby took the lead on 11 minutes. Shane Bland hoisted a long ball forward over the top of the Darlington defence for Jacob Hazel to lob over Tommy Taylor.

Quakers replied with a cross by Kevin Dos Santos that Luke Charman put over the top with a twisting header.

Quakers nearly levelled again on 17 minutes, Wheatley won the ball on the left and found Charman, who whipped a cross into the middle for Cassidy to head into the keeper’s hands.

But they broke through on 18 minutes when Jarrett Rivers and Dos Santos combined well for Dos Santos to square the ball for Cassidy to tap in from six yards.

Quakers went up the other end and nearly scored when Rivers crossed from the right for Cassidy to volley against the bar.

Dos Santos always looked dangerous when he had the ball, and he produced another good turn to give himself some space, but he pulled his shot wide.

Dos Santos then popped up on the left and found Hatfield in the box. He in turn set up Cassidy, whose left foot effort was blocked for a corner.

Half time 1-1

Half time stats:

Shots on target: 1/5

Shots off target: 2/6

Corners: 3/3

Fouls committed 8/6

Offsides 0/0

Here's our half time ad roll, put together by Alex Holland

In the second half, Luke Charman fired wide from an acute angle, then Rivers put in a good teasing cross from the right that was headed away by a defender.

Marcus Giles then wriggled away from the Darlington defence at the other end, but fired across the face of goal.

Luke Charman then broke away and was denied by a last ditch tackle in the penalty area, then Dos Santos again found space on the left and curled a right foot shot wide.

But Whitby went 2-1 up on 67 minutes when Hazel found space on the edge of the Darlington area, and curled a left foot shot into the top left corner.

Quakers then brought on Cole Kiernan for Dos Santos, then Beeden went off with a knock and was replaced by Joey Hope, so George Smith switched to the centre of defence.

In stoppage time, Cole Kiernan crossed from the left, Junior Mondal flicked the ball on, but a defender cleared off the line.

Stats

Shots on target 3/5

Off target: 3/8

Corners: 4/4

Fouls committed 14/13

Offsides: 1/1

Yellow cards: 1/2

Team: Taylor, Griffiths (sub Sanyang 65) , Beeden (sub Hope 75), Purver, Smith, Wheatley (sub Hedley 68), Charman, Hatfield, Rivers, Cassidy (sub Mondal 65), Dos Santos (sub Kiernan 76)

Subs: Martin,  Storey, 

Whitby: Brand, Fergus (sub Gell 46), Sukar, Griffiths (sub Dyer 46), Ritson, Rowe, Suddick (Shepherd 54), Hawkins, Giles, Hazel, Cooke (sub Martin 70).
Subs: Fewster, Martin, Shepherd, Ible, Burn

Don't forget to buy your season ticket:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/season-ticket-sales-approaching-900