QUAKERS LEFT STUNNED...
Hughes scores the key goal to sink Quakers
CURZON ASHTON began the season by winning at Darlington, fighting back from going a goal down early on.
They lost at Blackwell Meadows last season, but turned the tables on Saturday with Connor Hughes scoring the winner.
Darlington had started the better team, taking the lead when Simon Ainge headed in on 14 minutes, meeting one of five corners the Quakers won early on.
The first had come after just 14 seconds, won by Jordan Nicholson, who was one of five debutants in the Darlington starting XI, the others being Jonny Maddison, Liam Hughes, Tom Elliott and Ainge.
But the match turned on 25 minutes when Ashton levelled from their first corner.
Mason Fawns swung the ball in after a short-corner routine, but Quakers goalkeeper Maddison fumbled his catch and the ball dropped over the line.
Despite Darlington having enjoyed a strong start, the visitors then looked more likely to score next with Quakers looking bereft of ideas.
Curzon almost took the lead from their second corner, with Joe Guest’s shot parried by Maddison, and Daniel Shaw put the rebound into the side-netting.
John Flanagan’s men did go ahead early in the second half when Paul Marshall delivered a ball from the left that Hughes headed back across goal to beat Maddison for 2-1.
Darlington hit back and Elliott should have scored.
Played through by Reece Styche, he beat goalkeeper Cameron Mason but the midfielder’s effort hit the crossbar.
But Darlington lacked a creative spark and they went down to ten men when left-back Ben O’Hanlon was sent off for handball after using a hand in the penalty area.
While Maddison saved Connor Hughes’ penalty and ten-man Darlington gave it a go in the closing stages – twice they could have had a penalty when Styche and Ainge went down – they did not do enough to score an equaliser.
“I think we probably edged it,” said Flanagan. “Hand on heart, after the first 20 minutes Darlington were on top and for some reason we didn’t have the confidence to play and pass.
“But once we got the ball down and played a few passes together we looked more of a threat up the pitch.
“We were just getting back into the game before we equalised. I don’t know what their keeper did.” STAR MAN: Mason Fawns (Curzon Ashton) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★