Darlington 6 Blyth Spartans 0

Scorers: Sousa 11 mins 1-0, Campbell 14 mins, 2-0, Rivers 29 mins, 3-0, O'Neill 70 mins 4-0, Maguire 83 mins 5-0, O'Neill 84 mins, 6-0

Sponsors Man of the match: Tyrone O'Neill

Quakers won their first home league game of the season with a very convincing performance against bottom club Blyth.

It was also their best home league win since manager Alun Armstrong took charge in the summer of 2019.

Quakers played some excellent football, with Erico Sousa, Joe Wheatley and Tyrone O'Neill all leading the way as Quakers swept the Northumbrian visitors aside, scoring three goals in each half.

They could have scored more, but manager Alun Armstrong would also have been pleased with his team's defending, their second clean sheet in a row.

It was just a pity after the game that Quakers learned that keeper Melvin Minter has been recalled by Harrogate because of an injury to one of their keepers.

Here are the highlights:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/video-goals-and-highlights-from-blyth-win-available-now

Quakers produced some of their best football of the season in the first half.

Blyth won the first corner of the game on 2 minutes, and the ball was nodded into the six yard box where O’Donnell had a close range effort blocked by Minter.

Quakers created their first chance on 8 minutes when O’Neill laid off Hatfield’s pass for Sousa to fire wide of the left post.

There was another chance on 10 minutes when O’Neill found Sousa in a central position, and after wrong-footing a defender, Sousa fired just over the angle of post and crossbar.

Sousa was on target though on 11 minutes, when he controlled a through ball 30 yards out, beat a defender, and fired past Pearson for his fourth goal of the season.

It was 2-0 on 14 minutes, when Sousa’s right wing cross was headed down by O’Neill for Adam Campbell to pick his spot and score his sixth of the season.

Alex Storey was then narrowly over the top with a header from a left wing corner.

There had been more action in the first 15 minutes than the full 90 on Boxing Day!

Minter made a great save at the other end, going full length to his left to parry a header by O’Donnell from a free kick.

The third came along on 29 minutes. A steady patient build up saw Sousa pick the ball up in the box, and he cheekily lifted the ball over the Blyth defence for Jarrett Rivers to slot home from an acute angle.

But Quakers still had to be alert at the other end, and Storey, on his return to the team, did well to block Griffiths’ close range shot.

Campbell then broke away after a Blyth attack broke down, and after getting into the box with just Pearson to beat, he fired into the side netting.

There then followed a good spell of possession by Quakers with several players involved in a passing move, which ended with Atkinson firing just wide from 25 yards.

Blyth broke away through Paul Blackett just on half time, but Minter just got an outstretched foot to the ball. Play went straight up the other end, and Pearson saved from Sousa again.

Half time 3-0

Joe Wheatley nearly got number four with a free kick after he had been tripped 30 yards out, which he fired towards the bottom corner, but Pearson saved at full stretch.

Rivers then made a great run down the right to get into the penalty area, but Pearson was equal to his left foot shot.

Blackett broke away for Blyth on 67 minutes, but Minter saved well.

O’Neill made it 4-0 on 70 minutes. Starting out on the right, he played 1-2s with Rivers and then Campbell to get into the box, and he lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

And it was 5-0 on 83 minutes when Rivers slotted sub Dan Maguire through, and he coolly beat Pearson to score against his old club.

Then in Quakers next attack, Hudson had a shot blocked, and O’Neill, with his back to goal, cleverly lifted the loose ball into the empty net.

Full time 6-0

Here's the reaction of Alun Armstrong, Jarrett Rivers and Adam Campbell

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/video-reaction-to-win-over-blyth-spartans

Matchfacts

Shots on target Darlington 12 Blyth 5

Shots off target: 11/3

Corners: 2/5

Fouls committed: 6/7

Offsides: 1/6

Yellow cards: 1/1

Red cards: 0/0

Quakers: Minter, Atkinson, Reid, Storey, Watson, Wheatley (sub Liddle 75), Hatfield,  O’Neill Rivers, Sousa (sub Maguire 68),  Campbell (sub HuDson 71)

Subs not used: Saltmer, McMahon

Booking: Storey

Blyth: Pearson, Evans, Elsdon, Cunningham (sub Amantchi 46), Charlton (sub Sakellaroboulos,  46) , Agnew, Heslop (sub Cain 57), Thomson, Griffiths, O'Donnell, Blackett

Subs: Young, McKeown, 

Booking: Heslop

Here's our half time advert roll on Quaker TV: