Thornton heads Boro to last-gasp Good Friday win at play-off rivals Darlington
A thrilling, last-gasp 2-1 win at old rivals Darlington on a wild and windy afternoon, extended Boro’s unbeaten run to eight National League North games, and boosted their play-off hopes, lifting them to sixth in the table, with just four games to play.
In stark contrast to last week’s dismal goalless draw with Chorley, this was a fiercely contested, action-packed and evenly fought encounter, despite the strong, blustery winds that made ball control difficult, with former Darlington player of the year Alex Purver outstanding for Jono Greening’s side.
The first goal attempts came from the hosts, when Max Howells had a shot blocked by the hard-working Alex Brown, then Ryan Whitley got down quickly to smother a Tom Tweedy shot.
For Boro, Purver, Lewis Maloney and Jack Waldron were superb in the middle and Michael Duckworth won some crunching tackles at the back.
A nice passing move, involving Duckworth, Brown, Purver, and Maloney culminated in Rio Allan racing goalwards but being tackled by Scott Barrow.
Tweedy fired over for Darlo, and Will Thornton hacked clear when Aidan Rutledge teed up a shooting chance for Tweedy.
Boro were awarded a penalty on 19 minutes when Brown ran onto a Duckworth pass wide left and cut into the box, and keeper Rory Watson clattered into him.
The ref pointed to the spot, but Watson had hurt himself, and was replaced by 19-year-old reserve keeper Liam Mason who came on for his senior debut, and made an instant impact, diving to his left to save Ste Walker’s weak penalty.
Duckworth and Purver both fired over, a Maloney corner was volleyed wide by Thornton, and a Walker shot was blocked by Tom Platt.
For the hosts, a fierce Paddy McLaughlin strike was well saved by Whitley and Cedric Main burst into the box but was tackled by Jake Hull.
The second half was equally frenetic and hard fought, with the wind now in Darlington’s favour, although Purver was again dominant in midfield.
Ex-Boro striker Rutledge had a volley blocked by Kieran Weledji and a Thornton tackle halted a run from Will McGowan.
Boro went close on 54 minutes when a long-throw from Brown was headed on by Hull towards Weledji, who forced a terrific point-blank save from keeper Mason.
Whitley then saved at the feet of Tweedy and McGowan fired a 20-yard free-kick straight at Whitley. Boro went ahead when Maloney sent over a free kick from the left, Weledji headed-on, and Richie Bennett bundled in at the back post.
Darlington were level within two minutes, again from a setpiece, when a Tom Allan corner from the left wasn’t dealt with, and Weledji headed into his own net while attempting to clear.
Leeds United loanee Kenny Mensah and Brown combined to send Walker charging into the box, but Platt slid in with a last-ditch tackle, and Waldron was tackled by Elliott Forbes when he burst clear.
Darlo broke forward and Tom Allan flashed a shot wide, and Tweedy fired into the chest of Whitley.
In the last minute of stoppage-time, a Maloney free-kick deflected off the wall for a corner, which Maloney floated over from the right, and skipper Thornton headed in at the back post for a sensational last-gasp winner.
DARLINGTON - Watson (Mason 19), Barrow, Platt(c), Lees, Forbes, Tweedy, McLaughlin, Rutledge (Maskell 64), Main, McGowan, Howells (T.Allan 72), unused subs - Hedley, Barton, Griffiths.
BORO - Whitley, Duckworth (Mensah 76), Brown, Hull, Thornton (c), Purver, R.Allan (Bennett 51), Weledji, Walker, Maloney, Waldron, unused subs - Green, Tear, Hide, Studdard.
REFEREE - Jonathan Maskrey.
DARLINGTON GOAL - Kieran Weledji (og) 77; BORO GOALS - Richie Bennett 75, Will Thornton 90 + 4.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - DARLINGTON 8 (4 on target) BORO 9 (4 on target).
CORNERS - DARLINGTON 8 BORO 5.
OFFSIDES - DARLINGTON 1 BORO 5.
YELLOW CARDS - Max Howells, Tom Allan, Toby Lees (Darlington), Jake Hull, Will Thornton, Alex Brown (Boro).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Alex Purver.
ATTENDANCE - 2,400 (341 away).