Match Report
 today's match is sponsored by Red Cross |
Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena where Darlington play host to Milton Keynes Dons. Its a sell-out today with the 3,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in good condition.
Both Darlington and Milton Keynes Dons are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Dean Howey.
The pitch is in good condition.
Both Darlington and Milton Keynes Dons are lined up in a 3-4-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Dean Howey.
0.00
0-0Milton Keynes Dons start the match!
2.28
0-0Gregoor Zuidersma flicks a high pass forward. Bill Butt controls it well on his chest. Bill Butt threads the ball through to Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls shoots from long range. Ralph Christie gets down and covers it.
4.51
Jonathan Woodgate makes a strong solo run forward. Jonathan Woodgate flicks the ball to his team mate, Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls shoots from 20 yards but somehow Ralph Christie manages to keep it out.
6.56
0-0Patrick Royce makes a probing pass to Ruel Clegg. Ruel Clegg lofts in a cross ball towards Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop rises majestically and gets a header on goal. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
10.08
0-0Gregoor Zuidersma breaks forward. Gregoor Zuidersma knocks the ball to his team mate, Richard Milligan. Richard Milligan knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Malcolm Shields.
12.41
With imagination, Nicky Delaney laces a through ball forward to Patrick Smith. Patrick Smith decides to run forward with the ball. Patrick Smith shoots from outside the area but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
18.02
Glynn Smith makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Richard Milligan. Richard Milligan shoots from 25 yards but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
20.36
Patrick Royce kicks a strong pass forward to Ruel Clegg. Ruel Clegg knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Kelvin Hibbs who gathers it comfortably.
21.11
0-1Gregoor Zuidersma makes a beautiful solo run. Gregoor Zuidersma runs straight at the opposition's defence. Gregoor Zuidersma sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
24.41
Anthony Murrin runs forward with the ball. Anthony Murrin sees space and advances. Anthony Murrin whips in a cross ball towards Richard Milligan. Richard Milligan beats his man to it with a header. Ralph Christie gathers the ball up comfortably. Fabulous stop!
26.53
Jonathan Woodgate runs forward with the ball. Jonathan Woodgate flicks a high pass forward to Fredrik Nicholls who brings the ball under control. Fredrik Nicholls knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
27.55
Anthony Murrin decides to run forward with the ball. Anthony Murrin flicks a high pass forward. Richard Milligan controls it well on his chest. Richard Milligan shoots from 20 yards but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
28.08
0-1Richard Milligan hacks Gareth Carlton from behind! The referee calls over Richard Milligan and shows him a yellow card! Gareth Carlton hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
30.03
0-1Gregoor Zuidersma chips the ball to his team mate, Glynn Smith. Glynn Smith makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Richard Milligan. Richard Milligan lofts in a cross ball towards Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls finds space and glances the ball goalwards with his head. The shot is on target but blocked by Gareth Carlton. That should have been a goal!
32.13
Bill Butt knocks the ball to his team mate, Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls shoots from 25 yards. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
33.19
Dave Laver makes a probing pass to Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Ralph Christie who gathers it comfortably.
40.03
Anthony Murrin flicks a high pass forward to Mathias Biancalani who brings the ball under control. Mathias Biancalani kicks a strong pass forward to Richard Milligan. Richard Milligan shoots from distance. The ball edges just beyond the reach of the keeper, thudding into the back of the net. Goal!!
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!
Both teams emerge for the second half. Darlington have changed their lineup with James Fowler replacing Nicky Delaney, Teddy Ward replacing Patrick Smith and Daniel Brand replacing Ruel Clegg. Milton Keynes Dons appear unchanged since the first half. The Darlington players seem much more motivated whilst the Milton Keynes Dons players look more relaxed than they were earlier in the game.
45.00
The second half starts with Darlington kicking off!
48.50
Mathias Biancalani makes a simple pass to Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls finds some space and shoots from distance but it whistles just wide of the post!
49.22
Malcolm Shields knocks the ball forward to Jason Izzet. Jason Izzet kicks a strong pass forward to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball comes in low, but Kelvin Hibbs smothers it!
51.40
Patrick Royce clumsily knocks into Dave Laver. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Dave Laver hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
53.33
Gareth Carlton knocks the ball forward to Teddy Ward. Teddy Ward sees Matthew Weir in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Kelvin Hibbs who gathers it comfortably.
57.02
Mathias Biancalani deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Greg Peters. Greg Peters shoots from 20 yards but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
59.14
Gareth Carlton threads a neat ball through to Patrick Royce. Patrick Royce passes the ball forward to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
63.10
Bill Butt makes a run forward as Mathias Biancalani takes the throw-in. Bill Butt skillfully chests the ball down. Bill Butt makes a simple pass to Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls lofts in a cross ball towards Richard Milligan. With a superhuman jump, Richard Milligan connects with the ball and heads it goalwards. The ball flies into the top corner - goal!!
67.14
Patrick Royce chips the ball to his team mate, Daniel Brand. Daniel Brand lofts in a cross ball towards Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward but is denied by Jonathan Woodgate. Excellent block.
69.19
Gregoor Zuidersma threads the ball through to Mathias Biancalani. Mathias Biancalani chips the ball to his team mate, Greg Peters. Greg Peters knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by James Fowler.
71.34
James Fowler sees space and advances. James Fowler makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Jonathan Woodgate.
72.03
Malcolm Shields passes the ball forward to Teddy Ward. Teddy Ward sees space and advances. Teddy Ward lofts in a cross ball towards Daniel Brand. Daniel Brand connects with a diving header but it misses the target by a large margin!
75.02
Jason Izzet kicks a strong pass forward to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir skips past Gregoor Zuidersma! Matthew Weir comes in from the right and smashes a shot from 11 yards out. It's in!! A beautiful goal for Matthew Weir!
78.10
Glynn Smith threads a neat ball through to Fredrik Nicholls. Fredrik Nicholls sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it flies just wide!
79.12
James Fowler surges forward with the ball. James Fowler threads a neat ball through to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Anthony Murrin.
81.06
Gareth Carlton flicks a high pass forward to Dave Pallister who brings the ball under control. Dave Pallister knocks the ball to his team mate, Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
83.07
1-3Gareth Carlton sees Dave Pallister in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Dave Pallister passes the ball forward to Matthew Weir. Matthew Weir kicks a strong pass forward to Daniel Brand but the referee indicates it's offside!
89.38
Jason Izzet changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Jason Izzet knocks in a cross ball towards Alexander Bishop. Alexander Bishop directs the ball goalwards with his head. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!
Match Statistics
Goals
2
3
Shots on Target
4
7
Shots off Target
3
6
Offsides
1
0
Fouls
1
1
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0
Possession
46.1%
53.9%
Play Area
33.3%
39.2%
27.5%
Scorers
| Matthew Weir 75 Alexander Bishop 89 | Gregoor Zuidersma 21 Richard Milligan 40, 63 |
Man of the Match
| The man of the match was awarded to Gregoor Zuidersma of Milton Keynes Dons |
Match Ratings
| 1. | Ralph Christie (GK) | 7 | |
| 2. | Malcolm Shields (DEF) | 6 | |
| 3. | Gareth Carlton (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Nicky Delaney (DEF) | 6 | |
| 5. | Dave Pallister (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Patrick Smith (MID) | 6 | |
| 7. | Patrick Royce (MID) |  | 6 |
| 8. | Jason Izzet (MID) | 8 | |
| 9. | Alexander Bishop (ATT) |  | 7 |
| 10. | Matthew Weir (ATT) | | 8 |
| 11. | Ruel Clegg (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | James Fowler (ATT) | 7 | |
| 13. | Teddy Ward (MID) | 6 | |
| 14. | Daniel Brand (GK) | 6 | |
| 1. | Kelvin Hibbs (GK) | 6 | |
| 2. | Gregoor Zuidersma (DEF) | | 9 |
| 3. | Jonathan Woodgate (DEF) | 7 | |
| 4. | Anthony Murrin (DEF) | 8 | |
| 5. | Dave Laver (MID) | 6 | |
| 6. | Mathias Biancalani (MID) | 7 | |
| 7. | Glynn Smith (MID) | 6 | |
| 8. | Bill Butt (MID) | 6 | |
| 9. | Richard Milligan (ATT) | | 9 |
| 10. | Fredrik Nicholls (ATT) | 7 | |
| 11. | Greg Peters (ATT) | 6 | |
| 12. | Stanley King (MID) | 0 | |
| 13. | Anthony Seaman (GK) | 0 | |
| 14. | Simon Best (ATT) | 0 | |