Darlington: Stockdale, Austin (Purdie 80), Foster, White, Brackstone, Joachim, Cummins, Keltie (Ravenhill 81), Colbeck, Blundell, Wright.

Subs Not Used: Oakes, Miller, Johann Smith.

Goals: Joachim 27, Colbeck 63.

Shrewsbury: Garner, Darren Moss (Nicholson 70), Murdock, Langmead, Tierney, Herd, Drummond, Hunt (Hall 80), Leslie, Hibbert, Symes.

Subs Not Used: Esson, Ashton, Pugh.

Booked: Murdock.

Att: 2,628

Ref: Mike Pike (Cumbria).

Gary Peters makes the two changes to his side with Neil Wainwright missing as he's on loan from host side Darlington, Marc Pugh drops to the bench while Steve Leslie and Ben Herd come into the starting line-up.

There were chances for both sides in the opening exchanges with Darlington flashing a couple of shots wide with shots and Town were getting some decent breaks down the flanks with Steve Leslie showing some great pace and composure down the left to get in some excellent early balls, one that Michael Symes just failed to connect with at the back post.

Darlington had a good chance to grab the lead after a long clearance from Stockdale bounced awkwardly in behind the Town defence, Herd managed to get it back to Garner but his clearance was poor and fell to Gregg Blundell but he got his shot all wrong and missed a decent chance.

Town were playing themselves into trouble at times and again a short back pass put Garner under pressure, this time it was from Tierney that put Garner in trouble and his clearance nearly played in Colbeck but he miscontrolled the ball.

Town weren't causing too many problems in the attacking department with all the main action going on round the Town box, and when a Darren Moss clearance fell to Keltie he drove in a decent long range drive but Garner watched it all the way and held on well.

The home side's pressure paid off with a simple goal from Joachim after Leslie and Tierney got caught ball watching, this allowed Joachim to play a one two with Neil Austin and then slide the ball under Garner to make it 1-0 to Darlington.

Colin Murdock was adjudged to have brought down Tommy Wright on the edge of the box when it looked like Murdock who was being fouled, the free-kick was driven in for Colbeck to find Blundell on the edge of the 6-yard box, he was about to drill the ball home when a Town foot poked in to nick the ball away.

Town's efforts on goal had been few during the half and the best came with 10-minutes of the half remaining, David Hunt found himself in space in sight of the Darlington goal, he drove in a decent effort but it went well wide of the target.

Darlington were close to getting a second goal just before the break after they worked the ball well to find Tommy Wright on the edge of the Town box, he had a lot of space and time to try and pick his spot, but he took too much and drove his shot just wide of Garner's goal.

Half-time: 0-1

Town had a decent sight of goal straight after the restart when the ball came to Marc Tierney some 30-yards out, he drove in a decent effort that flashed just wide of the target.

Again Town were nearly playing themselves into trouble at times with first Colin Murdock looping a 40-yard header back to Garner, and then Marc Tierney slipping while knocking a ball back to the Town keeper but recovered in time to get himself out of danger.

Darlington grabbed a second goal after a Town attack broke down with a Darlington head clearing the ball to Greg Blundell, he powered down the field with Langmead trying to catch up, he then played a great ball to find Colbeck who then drove in a great shot past Garner to make it 2-0 to the home side.

Gary Peters made a switch with 20-minutes of the game remaining with Darren Moss being replaced by Stuart Nicholson.

Town's best openings were coming from Steve Leslie down the left, though when he dropped out of the game Town were quiet, and his pace again took him past his marker to get in behind the home defence, he lifted an inviting cross into the near post to find Hibbert but his header was wide of the target. Then minutes later once again it was Leslie down the left who was creating openings, and this time a low cross found Hibbert who drove in a shot but is was at a good height for Stockdale and he held on well.

With just over 10-minutes remaining Gary Peters made his second switch of the evening by brining on Danny Hall to replace Dave Hunt.

Darlington had another decent chance to test the Town goal after a ball into the box saw Murdock, Hall and Langmead failed to deal with it and this allowed Tommy Wright to find space in the box, he drilled in another shot but failed to hit the target.

Both sides had chances in quick succession with Darlington bearing down on the Town goal, but it broke down and Town broke on the attack with the ball coming to Hibbert who went in one on one against Stockdale but the Darlington keeper stood up big to block Hibbert's shot.

Full-time: 2-0