Darlington 1 King's Lynn 0

Attendance 1481

Goals: Griffiths, 5 mins, 1-0

Thanks to today's match sponsors: Andy Harland Motor Services

Matchball sponsors: SG Petch

A great early goal by Kallum Griffiths gave Quakers three crucial points against one of their play off rivals.

But they made life hard for themselves by not killing off their opponents, as they missed some excellent chances, particularly in the second half when King’s lynn were pushing forward.

But when the Linnets did pressurise the home defence, they came up against some very determined defending.

It was Quakers’ first ever home win over King’s Lynn, and puts them five points behind the play offs.

Here's the winner:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLvvkZkDiw8

Quakers took the lead with a great goal after 5 minutes. A left wing cross by Caden Kelly was cleared by the King’s Lynn defence as far as Kallum Griffiths, who struck a cracking right foot shot from 30 yards into the bottom corner of the net, for his second goal of the season.

King’s Lynn had a scare on 10 minutes when Griffiths, from way out on the right, struck a low ball into the near post which the keeper, Paul Jones, fumbled, and a defender managed to clear.

At this point, Quakers could be very satisfied with their start to the game, as they had found some good positions around the King's lynn box, while their visitors had barely threatened them.

The Linnets had a penalty shout turned down on 16 minutes when Jonny Margets went down when he was challenged by Scott Barrow in the area, but the referee waved play on.

They slowly got more into the game, but good defending by Quakers on the edge of their own area kept them at bay.

Quakers created a half chance for the second on 31 minutes when Ben Hedley played the ball inside for Caden Kelly to hit a first time shot that went a couple of yards wide.

The Linnets won a free kick on the right on 32 minutes which Quakers broke away from. Will Hatfield played the ball out to the right for Cedric Main to control then cross into the middle, where Bakre had a header saved.

Quakers had another chance just before half time. Main’s strength and pace took him past two defenders into the penalty area, where his shot was blocked by the advancing Jones.

Bakre then picked the ball up on the left, beat two men as he worked his way into the penalty area, but his shot was charged down.

It was a good first half for Quakes, they'd created nearly all the chances, while Peter Jameson had very little to do at the other end.

Half time 1-0

King’s Lynn won an early corner at the start of the second half, but it was wasted.

It was nearly 2-0 on 48 minutes. Main’s low cross from the right was cleared as far as Cornish, who squared the ball for Hedley to hit a first time right foot shot that seemed to be looping in, until Jones just managed to push the ball over the bar.

King’s Lynn had a penalty appeal turned down on 51 minutes when Margetts ran into the box and went down under a challenge by Jameson, but the referee ruled that he’d dived and booked him for simulation.

It was nearly 2-0 at the other end, when Kelly drifted in from the left and curled a right foot effort that went just past the far post.

Then Main got away down the right, beat a defender, stepped inside and then fired straight at Jones.

The chances were coming for Quakers, but they needed to take one of them.

But King’s Lynn nearly levelled on 64 minutes, when a free kick fell to Greg Taylor, who curled the ball over Jameson, but it came back off the bar.

Quakers broke straight up the other end, and Bakre got away from the last man, ran into the area, but Jones blocked his shot.

However, the visitors kept going, and Margetts put a glancing header into Jameson’s hands.

Quakers made their first sub on 72 minutes, Will Flint coming on for Caden Kelly.

They forced two corners in the 74th minute, and from the second, Taylor tried to lob Jameson, but the keeper held on

Bakre had another breakaway on 77 minutes, but after getting past one defender, a second blocked his shot.

Quakers made their second sub on 79 minutes, Jack Maskell coming on for Bakre, then Sam Hetherington came on for Cornish and Andrew Nelson for Main.

Quakers held on against Lynn’s pressure, and in the last minute of the 90, Maskell headed wide from Hedley’s cross.

Full time 1-0

Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Lees, Barrow, Hedley, Platt, Hatfield, Cornish (sub Hetherington 83), Kelly (sub Flint 72), Main (sub Nelson 88), Bakre (sub Maskell 79)

Subs: Stirland

Bookings: Platt 20, Griffiths 58, Hedley 65

Jones, Crowe, Wilson, Taylor, Armstrong, Walker, Coulson, Hughes, Crane, Barnes, Margetts

Subs: Omotayo, McCammon, Ronan, Sass, Forde-Brown