LONDON, CMC – St Kitts and Nevis striker Jacob Hazel scored twice as title-chasing Darlington began life without top scorer Mark Beck with a 3-2 win over Spennymoor Town in the English sixth-tier National League North on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Hazel netted in the 20th and 48th minutes at Blackwell Meadows as the hosts held on to defeat their near neighbors and make light of losing Beck – who had scored 18 goals for the club this season – to fifth-tier National League side Solihull Moors in midweek.
In the process, third-placed Darlington took their points tally to 50.
After going behind to a James Curtis goal early on, Darlington turned it around with two quick goals.
The first came when Kaine Felix dispossessed Curtis on the byline, his pass across the penalty area finding Hazel, who laid it on to Jack Lambert. Despite the tight angle, the playmaker blasted home.
Lambert teed up the next goal, his cross from the left met by Hazel, and his flicked header made it 2-1, sneaking the past ball goalkeeper Daniel Langley.
Darlington gave themselves breathing space when Hazel made it 3-1 three minutes into the second half, running onto Ben Liddle’s low ball from the left and holding off Curtis to finish.
Hazel, who made his debut for St Kitts and Nevis – dubbed the Sugar Boyz – in 2016, wasted a glorious hat-trick chance, unable to get enough power on a close-range header with the net gaping.
Although Connor Shanks pulled a goal back on 75 minutes, the hosts held on to finish the day two points behind leaders AFC Fylde, but from two matches more.
Meanwhile, an own goal by Grenada defender Omar Beckles helped Tranmere Rovers return to winning ways with a deserved 1-0 victory over League Two leaders Leyton Orient at Prenton Park.
The unfortunate Beckles, 31, deflected the ball into his net with eight minutes remaining after some fine work down the right from Josh Dacres-Cogley, giving Micky Mellon’s side their first win in four games and inflict a third straight-away defeat on Orient.
In the National League South, 29-year-old forward Dominic Poleon, eligible to represent St Lucia, scored twice after the break – netting on 66 and 89 minutes – as leaders Ebbsfleet United ran out easy 4-1 winners over Concord Rangers after trailing to a third-minute goal.
It was Poleon’s 21st goal of the season and 40th for the club. Rakish Bingham, who scored the first two goals, has also scored 40 times for Ebbsfleet, who hold a six-point lead after a fifth January victory.
In Belgium’s top-flight Pro League, 25-year-old Grenada winger Regan Charles-Cook gave KAS Eupen an 11th-minute lead with his fifth campaign goal, but hosts Standard Liege hit back to run out comfortable 3-1 winners on Friday night.
Charles-Cook joined Eupen, who sit 15th in the 18-strong table, on a free transfer from Scottish Premiership club Ross County last June, inking a three-year deal.
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