Two-goal Will McGowan made a superb Darlington debut, helping his new team to their biggest win of the season so far.

The attacking midfielder joined on loan in midweek, and made an immediate good first impression by bagging a brace at Blackwell Meadows against Southport.

Andrew Nelson completed the scoring late on as The Quakers made it seven games unbeaten.

Furthermore, they have now not conceded a goal in six league matches.

Despite losing right-back Levi Andoh to injury early on, the defence was solid, including new loan signing Andy Evans, and goalkeeper Peter Jameson never looked like being beaten today.

McGowan opened the scoring on 18 minutes after running at the back-peddling Southport defence and unleashing a low shot from the edge of the penalty area.

It had been an open start to the match, with Southport committing men forward, but McGowan’s run exploited space in the opposition half to make it 1-0.

Matty Cornish wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-0. With Chris Renshaw out of his goal having not dealt with a Quakers long pass, the goal was gaping but Cornish instead passed to Jack Maskell in an offside position.

With Darlington’s defence on top, Southport rarely threatened aside from Danny Lloyd unleashing a shot on the turn from 25 yards that whistled past the post.

McGowan was close to a second goal just before half-time, denied this time by Renshaw, but an error by the goalkeeper handed McGowan his second midway through the second half.

The Southport goalkeeper's pass from inside his penalty area was intercepted by the alert McGowan, and he lifted the ball high into the net.

And the outcome was sealed when striker Andrew Nelson came off the bench to score from a tight angle.

A free-kick on Quakers left sailed across the penalty area to Nelson, who took a touch before unleashing a rising drive high into the net.

The comfortable win meant Quakers could turn a blind eye to the performance of referee Declan Brown, who littered the afternoon with strange decisions that both baffled and enraged the majority of the crowd.

He made himself centre of attention at an early stage, by incorrectly booking Joe Leesley for a fair challenge and that decision set the tone for the afternoon.

Nonetheless, Quakers are now in high spirits and looking forward to next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at home to Gainsborough.

Referee: Declan Brown

Attendance: 1,430

Darlington (4-3-2-1): Jameson; Andoh (Salkeld 11), Evans (Payne 90), Leesley (Small 84), Barrow; Hatfield, Flint, Leesley; Cornish (Nelson 78), McGowan; Maskell. Subs not used: Rivers

Southport (3-5-2): Renshaw; Keane, Quansah, Knight-Percival (Proctor 52); Minihan, Burgess, Spooner, Philliskirk, Doyle; Carver (Morgan 78), Lloyd. Subs not used: Thomson, Moore, Russ