Source: Northern_Echo
Quakers into quarter-finals
Darlington marched into the quarter finals of the FA Trophy with a simple win at AFC Telford who ended the game with ten men.The Blue Square North side had keeper Ryan Young sent off after hitting Liam Hatch with ten minutes to go, but by that stage the game's outcome was a good as over. Mark Cooper's side took the lead after only two minutes with Gary Smith scoring from close-range after Hatch's shot had been blocked on the line. The goal came following Aaron Brown's cross and soon after the left-back delivered a corner that saw new striker John Campbell come close to his first goal for the club. The 22-year-old's shot from six yards was well saved by Young. The early goal gave Quakers momentum and they went on to boss much of the first half, though keeper Sam Russell was forced into making a smart save at his near post when Phil Trainer turned James Lawrie's right-wing cross towards goal. But Russell then had Ian Miller to thank for a goal-saving clearance. After Miller and Dan Burn had misjudged a long punt up the pitch, Telford's Andy Brown nicked the ball past the onrushing keeper but Miller raced back to execute a sliding challenge to stop Brown from equalising. Burn was making only his second appearance of the season ahead of the cup-tied Adam Quinn while Greg Taylor was also cup-tied and he was replaced by Smith. Although Telford had come on strong towards the end of the first period, but after the break Darlington were comfortable for lengthy spells. Campbell, making his second appearance after joining from Newcastle Benfield, spurned a great chance from eight yards, though he deserved credit after creating a well-worked opportunity. He collected a Paul Arnison free-kick, broke into the penalty area by playing a one-two with Marc Bridge-Wilkinson but, from an angle, he screwed his effort well wide. Seconds later Campbell, who impressed with his pace and strength, turned and shot from the corner of the penalty area but the effort sailed over the crossbar. Them, after a prolonged period of possession, with Jamie Chandler at the hub of the play, Arnison found himself in space on the right from where he fired over a cross that Hatch could not make a clean contact on. The game was finally wrapped up on 74 minutes, Aman Verma making it 2-0 with an eye-catching volley. Brown's corner was headed back across goal by Burn former Verma to blast an overhead kick beyond Young. The keeper was making his 200th appearance for Telford but the landmark occasion was to end on a sour note. Having already conceded twice, his misery was compounded when referee Mr J Adcock showed a red card following an incident that left Hatch on the floor in the Telford penalty area clutching his face. The referee awarded a free-kick as a result of a Hatch challenge on Young who had caught a high ball, but then swung out at the Darlington striker in retaliation. Telford players and fans were furious, believing that Hatch had made the most of the incident. For the closing stages Brown donned the keeper's gloves but one of his last acts was to pick the ball out of the net thanks to Nathan Modest making it 3-0 in injury time. The sub, on for Campbell, was one-on-one with the keeper before sliding the ball into the net and sealing Quakers' route into quarter-final draw which takes place on Monday. Goals: G Smith (2, 0-1), Verma (74, 0-2), Modest (90, 0-3) Bookings: Burn (43, foul) G Smith (43, foul); Mills (83, foul) Sendings-off: Young (80, violent conduct) Referee: J D Adock (Nottingham) Attendance: 1,505 AFC Telford (4-4-2): Young; Salmon, Whitehead (Murray), Killock, Newton; Gwynne (Meechan, 60), Rodgers (Carey-Bertram 77), Trainer, Mills; Brown, Lawrie. Subs (not used): Platt, Adams. Darlington (4-1-2-1-2): Russell; Arnison (Moore 89), Miller, Burn, Brown; Chandler; Verma, G Smith; Bridge-Wilkinson; Hatch, Campbell (Modest 68). Subs (not used): St Louis-Hamilton (gk), Main, Senior[LNB]
