Darlington 1 Brackley 0

A second half goal by Stephen Thompson put Quakers into fifth place in the National League North with a well deserved win.

Quakers enjoyed the vast majority of possession to record back to back wins, and also keep their second successive clean sheet.

But it was also a very good win considering that their first choice central defensive partnership of Kevin Burgess and Gary Brown were missing, so Chris Hunter and Terry Galbraith stepped in and did a fantastic job.

Quakers got the first corner in the third minute, but Thompson’s corner was cleared at the near post, and another in the fifth minute, that was taken by David Ferguson on the right hand side and headed away.

Quakers nearly scored on 6 minutes, when Thompson crossed from the right, and Alex Gudger turned the ball towards the top corner of his own net, and keeper Laurie Walker clawed the ball away.

Quakers had a half chance on 11 minutes when the ball dropped to Mark Beck on the left corner of the box, and his effort went across the face of goal.

Quakers got a free kick for a foul on David Syers on 15 minutes about 20 yards out, and even though Thompson got the ball over the wall, it also cleared the bar.

Quakers had the ball in the net on 21 minutes when Syers headed in a Thompson cross, but the ref penalised Galbraith for a foul on the keeper.

Quakers had a chance on 24 minutes when Cartman cut in from the left and struck a low drive that Walker saved.

Another good flowing move on 31minutes saw Galbraith found Marrs with a good crossfield pass, he played the ball on for Thompson who beat two men and set up Syers, whose shot was blocked.

Brackley had their first chance when Adam Walker beat a defender and struck a low shot towards the bottom corner that Wilczynski held on to low down to his left.

But Quakers responded when Syers laid a crossfield ball off for Thompson to strike a low shot that Walker saved.

Brackley had the chance of the half on 42 minutes though when Hempenstall nodded the ball down for Lowe, who was unmarked 12 yards out, but Wilczynski saved.

Half time

Darlington 0 Brackley 0

Brackley had the first chance of the second half when Glenn Walker exchanged passes and crossed from the left for Moyo to head over.

Quakers then had a good spell of pressure that ended with a corner given away by Dean on 54 minutes. When the ball came into the middle, Beck and Syers both had attempts blocked, but the ball ran on for Thompson to lash into the roof of the net for his sixth league goal of the season.

Quakers stayed firmly in control after that, and after a long stoppage because of a head injury to Glenn Walker, they nearly got a second when Galbraith curled in a free kick that beck got his head to and Laurie Walker tipped over the bar.

After that, Quakers kept possession well and didn't give Brackley any sight of goal, to extend their unbeaten run to four matches and climb up to fifth, because Halifax and Stockport both slipped up.

Darlington: Wilczynski, Marrs, Ferguson, Turnbull, Hunter, Galbraith, Syers, Falkingham, Beck, Cartman (sub Gillies 90+1), Thompson (sub Saunders 74)

Subs:  Jameson, Wearmouth, Hume

Brackley:

L Walker, Clifton, Gudger, Byrne, Gough, Dean, G Walker, Lowe (Myles 64), Moyo (sub Diggin 80), Hempenstall (sub Ndlovu 64), A Walker

Subs: Pitt, Barnes-Homer

 Booking: Gudger

Attendance 1547