Lee Thorpe's first half goal was enough to steer Darlington into the second round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. The margin of Quakers' win, their first of the campaign, could and should have been larger. Darlington turned in a good first half performance and whilst Lincoln came back into proceedings during the second period the hosts always seemed likely to book their place in the next stage of the competition.
Skipper Steve Foster was one of a few players rested whilst Thorpe earned a recall to partner Kevin Gall up front. It was the visitors who started brightly though. Rene Howe looked lively during the opening ten minutes. The Lincoln player posed a few questions of Darlington in the opening stages. Paul Connor also bought a fine save from David Knight. Quakers though gradually turned the screw and started to assume control of the match.
Lincoln came under increasing pressure as the first period wore on. Mark Convery in particular had plenty of joy down the right. His cross on ten minutes saw Kevin Gall try to connect acrobatically with the ball. Convery, who rejoined the club during summer, made the most of his start - his second of the season. Two minutes later he saw another of his crosses headed wide by Gary Smith.
A deflected free-kick from Nathan Porritt which went behind for a corner kept the pressure on the visitors. Darlington were getting increasingly closer to breaking the deadlock. On twenty-two minutes Lincoln managed to slide Gary Smith's cross clear with Porritt steaming in and minutes later Thorpe headed another Convery cross wide.
Darlington though didn't have to wait much longer for their goal. On twenty-six minutes, a minute after Thorpe's previous chance, Quakers had a deserved lead. Gall's perseverance saw him keep the ball in down the right which Aaron Brown thought was going out. Gall pulled the ball back for Convery who crossed into the middle where Thorpe prodded the ball into the back of the net.
Shane Clarke responded for the visitors by smashing a shot narrowly wide from distance. Darlington though were the better side. At the other end Convery had plenty of time to watch a cross onto his foot and over the bar via the glove of the Lincoln City keeper as Quakers completed a rousing first half effort.
The first half goal clearly boosted Darlington and whilst Lincoln started the second half brightly Quakers looked in control. The opening minutes saw Gall send a shot just wide of the upright before Porritt's driven cross on fifty-one minutes was caught by Robert Burch. At the opposite end Howe's cross was pushed away by Knight before the visitors could make more of it.
Daniel Hone and Thorpe continued to battle throughout the second period for anything which came their way. The tussle between the pair was entertaining enough but eventually the referee had to speak to the City defender after it went a little too far. With fifteen minutes left Paul Arnison was booked for a challenge on Andrew Hutchinson before Quakers made a double change - Jeff Smith and David Dowson took the place of Gall and Porritt.
Chris Fagan, a sixty-third minute substitute for Lincoln, saw a shot go wide before Thorpe bought a decent low stop from Burch with a header from a ring wing cross. With time running out the Imps started to threaten an equaliser.
Lenell John-Lewis found Fagan just inside the area but his shot after a neat turn was deflected behind for a corner kick. Quakers though were refusing to let go of a potential first victory and they finished the game strongly. Dowson dragged a shot wide on eighty-six minutes before the Sunderland loan player unleashed a thunderbolt which Burch superbly pushed over. Moses Swaibu was on the end of a verbal ear bashing and a bit more from Burch following his stop. Whilst a late corner caused a few late nerves for the Darlington faithful they managed to clear and expertly run the clock down to claim a much deserved first win of the season.
