Darlington 2 Warrington 2

Goals: Nelson (20 mins, 1-0) Bennett og (38 mins, 2-0) Amis (56 mins 2-1, 83 mins 2-2)

Attendance 1563

Darlington allowed a two goal lead to slip away and had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Warrington.

They looked set for victory after leading 2-0 at half time, but Warrington sub Josh Amis found space to score twice in the second half. And if it wasn’t for two great saves by Pete Jameson late on, they could have lost.

Here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/goals-from-the-warrington-game

and here's Steve's reaction to the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FJY0ZHpKdo

In the opening minute, Ali Alshabeeb did well on the half way line to beat three players and find Will McGowan, who then tried to find Caden Kelly, whose effort was blocked.

Andrew Nelson then had room to run at the Warrington defence, but he fired over the top.

Conner Woods then turned on the edge of the area for Warrington and hit a low shot that Jameson saved.

Scott Barrow got around the back of the defence on the left and pulled the ball back for Cedric Main, who sidefooted wide.

Kallum Griffiths then found Caden Kelly with a good crossfield pass, and the Sunderland loanee cut in from the left and forced a good save low down by Daniel Atherton.

But Warrington missed a good chance on 13 minutes when a cross came in from the right and Peter Clarke headed wide.

Quakers kept the pressure on the Warrington defence, and they took the lead on 20 minutes. Scott Barrow played a 1-2 with Cedric Main to get him into the six yard box, and after the keeper got his left hand to his effort, Andrew Nelson followed up and tapped in his fourth goal of the season.

Will Flint got in a great challenge to stop a counter attack with a tackle on the edge of his own area, before Quakers nearly went 2-0 up when McGowan set up Kelly inside the box, and the midfielder’s shot was blocked by a defender.

Quakers got another chance from a corner that was cleared as far as Barrow, whose first time left foot volley was headed away by a defender on the six yard line.

Another good move down the left, where Quakers were getting a lot of joy,  between McGowan, Barrow and Kelly saw Kelly’s cross go behind.

There was then a big scramble inside the Darlington box that saw the home defence block two shots before the ball was cleared by Griffiths.

However the home side went 2-0 up on 38 minutes when the ball was played down the right by Alshabeeb for Nelson to cross into the middle, and defender Murphy Bennett, running back towards his own goal headed into his own net.

Considering the number of chances that they had created, Quakers were full value for their half time lead.

Half time 2-0

Warrington made two subs at half time to try and get back into the game.

Quakers started the second half with Alshabeeb setting up Barrow, who brought the keeper to his knees with a 25 yarder.

Forbes then sent Kelly into the box on the left, and the youngster’s shot across the face of goal went just wide.

Main picked the ball up from Alshabeeb in the area, and tried to turn and shoot, but he was just crowded out.

However, against the run of play, Warrington pulled a goal back when Josh Amis found space on the right, and he coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Jameson.

Again though, Quakers got behind the Warrington defence, and Main had a header saved by Atherton, and Kelly’s follow up was blocked by a defender.

Another chance came Quakers’ way when Nelson picked the ball up on the right, moved inside and struck a low left foot shot that the keeper saved.

Quakers made a sub on 65 minutes, Alshabeeb coming off to be replaced by Joe Leesley.

Warrington kept going though, and they forced two corners which Quakers dealt with, then Amis headed a third one over the bar.

Quakers made three more subs on 76 minutes, with Main, McGowan and Kelly being replaced by Cameron Salkeld, Matty Cornish and Jack Maskell.

Quakers had Jameson to thank for a good save on 81 minutes when Woods picked up a right wing cross, sidestepped a defender, but Jameson saved at full stretch.

However, Warrington levelled on 83 minutes when Amis chested a through ball down and beat Jameson with a left foot shot.

Jameson pulled off a good stop from Miles after he had dribbled through, and an even better one from Amis after Miles had found him in the area.

Salkeld won a corner in stoppage time, but Nelson’s effort was blocked, and then from Barrow’s ball in from the left, Salkeld fired wide

Full time Darlington 2 Warrington 2

Team: Jameson, Griffiths, Lees, Forbes, Barrow, Flint, McGowan (Salkeld 76), Alshabeeb (sub Leesley 65), Kelly (sub Cornish 76), Main (sub Maskell 76), Nelson

Subs: Small

Warrington: 

Atherton, White (sub Miles 43), Gumbs, Harris, Woods, McDonald, Rodwell-Grant (sub Amis 46), Bennett, Dixon (sub O'Neill 46), Douglas, Clarke

Subs: Amaral, Halford

We'd like to thank our matchball sponsor, Jesso the goalkeeper