League

Darlington Park
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Louie Hicks sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 7 played minutes, Darlington City's Daniel Love shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper George Kershaw came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Darlington City reached it. In the 11th minute, Louie Hicks ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. George Kershaw was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. An unexpected shot in the 20th minute by Louie Hicks got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 22nd minute of the game. One of Stevenage:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Darlington City:s goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Steven Cotton in the 29th minute of play forced Darlington City's goalkeeper Dean Wroe to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rich Elding sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alec Hinchcliffe during the 33rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Darlington City booed when Stevenage was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alec Hinchcliffe didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 35th match minute, Stevenage was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Eric Nightingale to maneuver through the defense. An unexpected shot in the 37th minute by Harvey Lewington got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. George Kershaw showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Harvey Lewington in the 40th minute of the match. Stevenage's George Kershaw played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Harvey Lewington in the 41st minute of play. Steven Cotton took the ball and in the 42 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Dean Wroe. Dean Wroe dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-1. Harvey Lewington fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without George Kershaw having to interfere. If Louie Hicks had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Harvey Lewington stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Louie Hicks fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without George Kershaw having to interfere. In the 56th minute, Harvey Lewington made a precise shot to the right of George Kershaw. Stevenage's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 3-1. Harvey Lewington sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Steven Cotton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Lewis Radcliffe struck a weak shot in the 73rd minute. Dean Wroe didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Stevenage. In the 78th minute Stevenage were awarded a corner. Christopher Woodhead went to the cornerflag to take it. Harvey Lewington sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Darlington City's Dean Wroe played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lewis Radcliffe in the 94th minute of play. Lewis Radcliffe fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dean Wroe having to interfere. When the referee ended the match the Darlington City players were able to celebrate. They had won a fair victory and recieved the ovations of their fans.