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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena
  • Attendance: 3654
  • Referee: Boyeson, C

Live Commentary

90mins

That's it, it's all over, the referee has blown the final whistle.

90mins

Goal!! Martin Smith scores for Darlington.

89mins

Andy Sandell is replaced by Chris Lines.

81mins

Bristol Rovers are replacing Richard Walker with Sean Rigg.

74mins

Barry Conlon is being taken off, Neil Wainwright has come on in his place.

63mins

Lewis Haldane is replaced by Chris Carruthers.

61mins

Darlington are replacing Kalusivikako Ngoma with Alun Armstrong.

55mins

Goal!! Lewis Haldane scores for Bristol Rovers.

55mins

Lewis Haldane is booked for unsporting behaviour.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 0.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by C Boyeson

33mins

Patrick Collins is replaced by Darren Holloway.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Bristol Rovers were denied a crucial away win as Darlington grabbed a late, late equaliser to secure a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the TFM Darlington Arena.

The West Country visitors had dominated the game throughout and were desperately unlucky to concede at the death despite the home side's late rally.

It was home keeper Sam Russell who was the busier throughout the 90minutes as he repelled the Pirates time after time. Russell denied Richard Walker on two occasions in the opening period of the game as the visitors ran amok.

Resolute defending from home captain Patrick Collins kept Rovers at bay, but the hosts were dealt a blow when he had to be replaced after suffering an injury in the 32nd minute.

The visitors continued to dominate and Ricky Lambert went close with a 25-yard free kick before the home side rallied in the 43rd minute when Martin Smith went close.

Soon after the restart Darlington striker Julian Joachim tested Rovers keeper Steve Phillips, but it was a brief rest bite as Rovers took the lead soon afterwards. Lewis Haldane peeled off his marker inside the area and fired high into the net from 12 yards out to give the visitors a deserved lead on 53 minutes.

Three minutes later Phillips was in action to save a close range header from Kalusivikako Ngoma comfortably, as the home side looked to get back into the game. But in the 66th minute it was Russell who was busy again as he denied Rovers substitute Chris Carruthers.

Darlington then brought on striker Alun Armstrong and the substitute was soon in the thick of the action with a 35-yard lob which came back off the crossbar in the 70th minute.

The home side rallied late into the game but it looked as though missed chances from Michael Cunnings and Julian Joachim had left the home side too much to do.

However as the game entered its dying moments there was some cheer for the home fans when Smith fired in a rasping drive from just inside the area when he connected with a cross from substitute Neil Wainwright.

Darlington

Bristol Rovers

Corners

66

Fouls

1211

Goal attempts

1514

Shots off target

86

Offsides

23

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