League

Birches Head Wreck
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Cody Duckworth took the kick off in the first half of the match. The supporters of Darlington City booed when Birches Head Potters was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 15 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sebastien Small didn't get a good kick on the ball. 17 minutes into the match, Darlington City's Louie Hicks sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nathan Locke narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Robert Elliot hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. 24 minutes into the match, Louie Hicks had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Nathan Locke. Birches Head Potters's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Louie Hicks was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. 28 minutes into the match, Birches Head Potters's goal looked a bit too open when Louie Hicks came free, but Nathan Locke reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nathan Locke made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Louie Hicks in the 32nd minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Cody Duckworth in the 36th minute of play forced Darlington City's goalkeeper Terry Crowther to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Birches Head Potters's zone, Robin Reynolds stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nathan Locke came out of the goal and Robin Reynolds tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Robin Reynolds fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nathan Locke having to interfere. Terry Crowther didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Zack Whitehead went, in the 42nd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. In the 47th match minute, Darlington City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sly Gold to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zack Whitehead got free with Terry Crowther in the 48th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Terry Crowther made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cody Duckworth in the 59th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Cody Duckworth's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Terry Crowther was relentless in the 61st minute of the game. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Sly Gold during the 62nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Terry Crowther showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Zack Whitehead in the 63rd minute of the match. If Zack Whitehead had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zack Whitehead in the 68th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Terry Crowther saved Darlington City from getting behind. After a defensive mix-up in Darlington City's zone, Zack Whitehead stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Terry Crowther came out of the goal and Zack Whitehead tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Robert Elliot charged in rather forcefully in the 75th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Robert Elliot the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Birches Head Potters getting a freekick after 75 minutes play. Robert Elliot hit a great ball. Robin Reynolds struck a weak shot in the 76th minute. Nathan Locke didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Darlington City. Harvey Foley's late challenge caught a Darlington City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Harvey Foley helped the player get up and apologised. An unexpectedly hard shot by Louie Hicks in the 81st minute of play forced Birches Head Potters's goalkeeper Nathan Locke to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Darlington City's Terry Crowther played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Zack Whitehead in the 82nd minute of play. Harvey Lewington hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Terry Crowther stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Zack Whitehead's shot from short distance in the 84th minute. After 85 played minutes Birches Head Potters got a freekick which was hit by Neil Mansell. Robin Reynolds sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Cody Duckworth had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Zack Whitehead took the ball and in the 95 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Terry Crowther. Terry Crowther 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. Darlington City's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.