DARLINGTON were second best as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Chorley at Victory Park.

Quakers never really got to grips with Chorley’s pace in the first half, and the result means they have conceded 17 goals in their last four matches against Chorley, without scoring at the other end.

Quakers lost 8-0 at Victory Park last season, and they went a goal down on eight minutes this time around when Scott Barrow lost possession of the ball inside his own area and the ball ran for George Horbury to score with a left-foot shot that went in off the left-hand post with keeper Peter Jameson beaten.

Darlington nearly levelled when Scott Barrow’s free-kick was only partially cleared as far as Will Hatfield, who hit a first-time right-footed volley that brought Chorley keeper Matt Urwin to his knees.

However, the midfielder went off just a few minutes later with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, and was replaced by Joe Leesley.

Chorley got their second goal on 25 minutes. Craig Hewitt tried to get past Kallum Griffiths on the left inside the area and was brought down by the full-back and the referee immediately pointed to the spot, from where Mo Touray scored.

Quakers tried to respond.  Barrow floated a free-kick in from the left for Elliot Forbes to head just wide, but Chorley threatened a third when the ball came in from the right for Mark Ellis to head just over the bar.

The visitors created another chance when Will McGowan crossed from the left for Forbes to head just over.

But just on half-time, Jameson had to make a full length save to deny Ellis, who had found space to volley a free-kick ten yards out.

In the second half, Main dribbled into the area and crossed to the far post, but Chorley keeper Matt Urwin held on to his cross.

Jameson pulled off a good save to stop Chorley getting their third when Touray backheeled a Michael Calveley pass for Jack Moore to have his shot blocked.

But it was 3-0 after 62 minutes when Touray found space on the right, and he ran into the box and coolly side-footed past Jameson.

It was nearly 4-0 when Hewitt made a great run in from the left and set up Blakeman, whose low piledriver was well pushed away by Jameson.

Quakers nearly pulled a goal back when Forbes nodded down a right-wing free-kick from Joe Leesley for Matty Cornish to have a point blank header saved, and when the ball came back into the middle, Nelson volleyed over the top.

There was another chance when Alshabeeb chased a ball into the area and rolled it back for Nelson, who put the ball over the top from ten yards.

There was another chance when Barrow made a good run down the left and crossed to the far post, where Cornish volleyed wide.

However, a fourth Chorley goal always looked possible, and Jameson made a good late save from Chukwu Dubemeze.