Quakers’ winning streak continues

DARLINGTON are joint-top of the Vanarama National League North table with three wins from three matches thanks to a comfortable 4-1 home win over Alfreton.

But Quakers gave themselves some work to do in the very first minute, when they lost possession inside their own penalty area after just 33 seconds, allowing Craig Westcarr to set up Chris Sharp, who fired into the bottom corner.

Quakers went straight up the other end from the kick-off and levelled after 94 seconds, when James Caton swivelled quickly inside the Alfreton box from a Mark Beck assist and fired into the roof of the net, his first goal for the club. Quakers nearly took the lead on 32 minutes when the speedy Caton got past a defender on the left and crossed to the far post, where Beck struck the bar with a header.

Quakers went 2-1 up on 37 minutes when David Ferguson’s cross from the left caused problems for the Alfreton defence, David Syers had a header blocked, but the ball dropped nicely for Josh Gillies to steer home his second goal of the season.

And it was nearly 3-1 on the stroke of half time, when Syers’ low right-foot shot was just pushed around the post by Alfreton keeper Chris Elliott. Alfreton nearly levelled five minutes into the second half when Ryan Jennings floated a cross from the left into the box where Craig Disley met the ball with a glancing header, but Darlington keeper Adam Bartlett got down very well low to his left and kept the ball out.

Quakers took control on 55 minutes when Syers had a shot blocked, but he regained possession and rolled the ball across the penalty area for Ferguson to sidestep two defenders and beat the keeper with a right foot shot, his third goal of the season.

And it was game over on 63 minutes, when Beck nodded down a left-wing cross from Ferguson for Gillies to place just inside the left-hand post – Quakers tenth goal already this season. Gillies nearly got his hat trick when Scott Fenwick put him clear in the box, but Elliott saved his low attempt.