It’s been a terrific first 45 minutes of football at Heritage Park, incident-packed all the way as Quakers challenge for the automatic promotion place.

Quakers missed a great chance after just 90 seconds, a clearance by Droylsden keeper Craig Ellison rebounded off Graeme Armstrong square into the path who took careful aim 25 yards out, but sidefooted wide of an open goal.

And in the third minute, Leon Scott found Stephen Thompson who chipped the ball into the net over the keeper, but was flagged for offside.

Droylsden stunned Quakers by taking the lead after 6 minutes. The ball seemed to bounce off Gary Brown and ran into the path of Ciaran Kilheeney, who ran forward and hit a 25 yarder that bounced off the post and into the net.

Quakers had a chance to equalise on 7 minutes, when Alan White nodded Adam Mitchell’s cross down for Cartman to volley, but Ellison was quickly off his line to block.

But Quakers broke through on 9 minutes. Adam Mitchell floated a free kick from the left into the box, and Alan White, on his return to the side, glanced the ball past the keeper into the net.

Graeme Armstrong made a great run down the right after 17 minutes, holding off a defender all the way, and after cutting in from the right, he chose to shoot straight at Ellison, instead of pulling the ball back for either Portas or Mitchell in better positions.

But Quakers were back again inside the Droylsden box on 20 minutes. Galbraith picked up the ball on the left, played it inside to Thompson, who laid the ball off for Mitchell to hit first time into the net with the help of a slight deflection.

Quakers had a good chance again on 28 minutes. Brown played the ball forward towards Cartman, who cleverly dummied the ball for Armstrong in the clear, but Armstrong fired straight at Ellison.

Quakers went 3-1 up on 29 minutes. This time Thompson got away down the left and played the ball into the near post, where Cartman nipped in and turned the ball past Ellison.

It was 4-1 three minutes later. Mitchell won possession just outside the box, ran forward, and set up Armstrong to score his 21st league goal of the season.

Droylsden then nearly scored at the other end when Hillhouse got through, but Jameson blocked, and when Kilheeney followed up, Hunter cleared off the line.

The drama continued. Quakers were furious on 37 minutes when Mitchell weaved his way into the box and seemed to be scythed down by the last defender Nat Kerr, but the ref booked Mitchell for simulation.

Droylsden were reduced to ten men a minute before half time, when Armstrong was pulled back by Dogan on the edge of the area – although the foul appeared to be inside – and the Droylsden defender was shown his second yellow.