Quakers have to settle for a goalless draw

By Ray Simpson

Quakers have to settle for a goalless draw

Darlington 0 Nuneaton Town 0Darlington had to settle for a goalless draw even through they created p...

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Awards Evening 2018

Darlington 0 Nuneaton Town 0

Darlington had to settle for a goalless draw even through they created plenty of chances against Nuneaton.

It was Quakers' second game in 48 hours, and the toll seemed to tell in teh second half, although sub James Caton nearly won it in stoppage time.

Quakers made good ground in the second minute, Joe Wheatley played a good diagonal ball to Gary Brown to pull back for Stephen Thompson to cross, and the ball was headed away by a defender at the far post.

Quakers nearly scored after 4 minutes. Thompson made a great run down the right and pulled the ball back for David Syers, whose sidefoot went just over the angle of post and crossbar.

A Gary Brown long throw caused a moment of panic in the Nuneaton defence, but no-one could take advantage.

Nuneaton had a chance on 8 minutes, a first time shot by Ashley Chambers from 25 yards out that went a yard wide.

And then on 12 minutes Tom Elliott picked the ball up on the left and hit a low shot that Aynsley Pears touched around his left hand post.

At the other end, Joe Wheatley curled a free kick from the edge of the box just wide of the left hand post.

Quakers had a great chance on 18 minutes, when the Nuneaton defence missed a left wing cross, and Styche about 12 yards out, volleyed over the top.

Another came along on 24 minutes. A high ball forward caused the Nuneaton defence to hesitate , and head the ball back to Thompson, whose right foot shot was just over the top.

Then a poor clearance went straight to Thompson, who charged into the box and had his shot pushed into the side netting by Etheridge.

N9

Nuneaton went up the other end and nearly scored, when Nti set up Chambers, but Pears saved at his feet.

Quakers had a goal disallowed on 40 minutes when Wheatley whipped a great cross in from the right and David Syers volleyed in, but the assistant’s flag went up for offside.

N16 Syers hits the back of the net

Nuneaton replied with a free kick from the right that Chambers headed over the top.

Quakers had a great move just on half time when Gillies played the ball inside for Styche, who then played a 1-2 with Syers and lobbed the ball on to the roof of the net.

Syers set up Styche again on the edge of the box, but the striker sidefooted straight at Etheridge.

Half time:

Darlington 0 Nuneaton 0

Attendance 1409

The second half started with a free kick by Galbraith that was headed away by the Nuneaton defence.

Quakers missed a great chance on 57 minutes. Wheatley hit a powerful right foot shot from 25 yards out that Etheridge parried, and Syers following up but partly off balance, knocked the rebound wide.

Nuneaton had a chance on 62 minutes when James Ferry struck a low shot from 25 yards that Pears saved at the foot of his post.

It was clear that tired legs were starting to have an effect, so Tom Porats came on for David Syers on 62 minutes.

Quakers had a free kick from the halfway line that Styche controlled on his chest with his back to goal, but his shot was blocked.

James Caton came on for Stephen Thompson on 75 minutes.

Quakers kept pressing forward, and Wheatley fired high over the bar from the edge of the box.

Saunders came on for Gillies on 85 minutes

James Caton nearly won it in stoppage time, he cut in from the right and hit a right foot shot that Etheridge touched around the post.

Full time.

Darlington 0 Nuneaton 0

 

 

Darlington: Pears, Brown, Heaton, Galbraith, O’Hanlon: Turnbull, Wheatley; Thompson (sub Caton 75), Syers (sub Portas 69), Gillies (sub Saunders 84); Styche

Subs: Glover, Bancroft,   Saunders

Nuneaton: Etheridge, Wildin, Heaton, Elliott, Langmead, Johnson, Ferry, Daniels, Chambers, Green (sub Mitchell 59,) Nti

Subs: Lyness, Dielna, Nabi, Wright

Booking: Chambers