Darlington reach Wembley

Darlington will end the season at Wembley after winning their two-legged FA Trophy semi-final with Gateshead today. Darlington will end the season at Wembley after winning their two-legged FA Trophy semi-final with Gateshead today. A total of 2,449 Quakers fans almost half the total 5,156 attendance saw a scoreless draw at the International Stadium which was enough to take Mark Cooper's side to the final. The defence kept Sam Russell well protected, the keeper not having a save to make, meaning the 3-2 first leg win at The Northern Echo Arena proved sufficient. The first half saw Gateshead enjoy much more possession, but Russell had little to do other than catching practice, and at half-time Cooper laid into his players. After the break his term were invigorated, pinning the hosts into their own half and comfortably seeing out a 0-0 draw. The final, against Mansfield Town, will be played on May 7 and will be Quakers' first visit to Wembley since the stadium was rebuilt. Darlington also played there in the 1996 and 2000 League Two play-off final. Bookings: Curtis (57, foul), Shaw (87, foul) Referee: Mark Heywood (Northwich) Attendance: 5,156 (2,449) Darlington (4-1-2-1-2): Russell; Arnison, Miller, Burn, Brown; Chandler; G Smith, Verma; Bridge-Wilkinson; Hatch, Campbell (Modest 54). Subs (not used): St Louis-Hamilton (gk), P Gray, Wright, Senior Gateshead (4-4-2): Deasy; Tavernier, Curtis, Clark, Liddle; Brittain (Marwood 77), Gate, Turnbull, Rundle (Nelthorpe 69); Fisher, Shaw. Subs (not used): Farman (gk), Jones, Offiong

Source: Northern_Echo