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Darlington 0 Alfreton 0

Darlington are now unbeaten in four matches after a goalless draw against Alfreton at Blackwell Meadows.

There weren’t many chances in a game which saw a lot of long balls, and Quakers will be pleased that they’ve now also kept four clean sheets in a row.

However, two players went off because of injury during the game, Elliot Forbes and Ben Hedley.

As expected, Alfreton adopted a direct approach and tested Quakers with some long balls which they comfortably dealt with.

Quakers won the first corner on 10 minutes on the right, Scott Barrow floated the ball into the bear post where Jack Maskell had a header deflected bebind. Barrow’s second corner was a bit deeper, but held by George Willis.

Alfreton went up the other end and won a corner which they nearly scored from. The ball went to the far post where Max Hunt headed towards goal, and Maskell cleared off the line.

Quakers were forced into a change though on 13 minutes when Elliot Forbes limped off and had to be replaced by Cameron Salkeld.

Alfreton nearly scored from a long throw on 19 minutes that was knocked down at the far post for David Moyo to hook wide.

The two sides cancelled each other out after that, until Quakers nearly scored on 34 minutes. A ball into the box from the right was blocked, only for it to run to Matty Cornish who hit the ball first time straight at Willis.

Barrow tried to break the deadlock with a good run, but his left foot shot from 30 yards went wide of the right hand post.

Half time 0-0

Quakers made a sub at the start of the second half, Kallum Griffiths coming on for Ben Hedley, who seemed to take a knock just before the break.

Salkeld had a chance to break down the right,but he was harshly pulled up for a foul on Wiley.

Quakers won a corner on the left on the hour, but Cornish’s flag kick went over everyone, and when Barrow returned the ball back into the middle, the ref blew up for a foul.

Alfreton put a promising break together, but it was stopped by a good interception by Will Hatfield on the edge of his own area.

Quakers made their third change on 64 minutes, Andrew Nelson coming on for Jarrett Rivers.

Nelson had a half chance on 71 minutes when Salkeld found him on the overlap in the box, but his effort was charged down.

Quakers tried a long throw themselves on 78 minutes when Andoh’s long throw was helped on by Nelson, but Willis grabbed hold of the ball.

Barrow found space about 35 yards out on 82 minutes and tried his luck, but unfortunately his effort went over.

Alfreton went their closest yet on 84 minutes when Jake Day headed just wide from a right wing cross from six yards out.

Full time Darlington 0 Alfreton 0

Team: Jameson, Adoh, Lees, Forbes (sub Salkeld 13)Hedley (sub Griffiths 46), Barrow, Hatfield, Flint, Cornish, Rivers, Maskell

Subs: Griffiths, Payne, Taylor, Nelson

Alfreton

Willis, Perritt, Newcall, Cantrill, Hut, Wiley, Abbey, Clackstoe, Moyo, Waldock, Fewster

Subs@ Day, Whitehouse, Salmon, Anson, Askew.