Report: Reds seen off by in-form Darlington

Adam Campbell hit a brace as Darlington eased to victory at Blackwell Meadows on Saturday afternoon and ended the Reds three game unbeaten league run, dropping us to 15th in the National League North table.

Campbell scored a superb solo effort after 18 minutes as he drove forward and into the box before finishing across Jordan Wright. Campbell added a second after 55 minutes, slipping clean through from a through ball and he finished past Wright into the bottom corner.

Justin Donawa made it three in stoppage time, planting the ball into the far corner from a free kick on the left to hand the Reds another defeat on the road and end the momentum we had gained in the three games prior.

Alfreton started well with Danny Clarke flashing a shot wide of the post, Bobby Johnson couldn't quite find Ben Tomlinson with a through ball before the game went scrappy and quiet with both sides looking to control the ball in the central areas.

Tomlinson couldn't adjust his footing in the box from Danny East's pass before the Quakers came close with a shot which went just wide. Then with 18 gone, Campbell gained possession before driving forward and into the box unchallenged before finishing low past Jordan Wright.

Tomlinson again had a sniff as he rounded the Quakers goalie but he ran out of pitch as the ball went out of play, we were carrying a threat without having much of the ball but the Reds still found themselves in the contest. Darlington cleared successive corners from Bobby, before Dom Smith collected a flick on from Tomlinson but he couldn't guide the effort goal-wards as it went wide.

The second half again began strongly with a East corner taken short but the move broke down, Danny Preston's inviting cross lacked a connection.

Then the second goal came from the hosts as Campbell timed his run to perfection to stay onside and go clean through and with just Wright to beat, he finished into the bottom corner. The goal relaxed the hosts who had the cushion they wanted, Ryan Qualter fired wide of the post, Jude Oyibo then fired way over the bar after a good run.

Elliott saved easily from Dale Whitham as action in the final third was to a minimum apart from the Quakers second goal. Then in stoppage time the hosts added a third as Donawa converted from a free kick on the left as the ball bounced into the far corner.

The Reds had few dangerous openings and Darlington's quality in the final third proved the difference as we fell to defeat at Blackwell Meadows. Next, we face rivals Matlock Town in the DSC quarter final on Tuesday night, kick off is 7.45pm.

ATFCXI: Wright, Clackstone, Preston, Johnson, Qualter, Branson (Blake 62), Smith, Clarke, East, Tomlinson (Oyibo 45), Lynch (c) (Whitham 80).

Subs Not Used: Wilde, Andrew.

Attendance: 1271