Chorley 3 Darlington 2

Scorers: Nelson ( 39 mins 0-1) Carver (54 mins, 1-1), Teague (66 mins, 2-1), A Newby (67 mins 3-1), Nelson 85 mins (3-2)

Two excellent goals from Andrew Nelson weren't enough to give Quakers the points at Victory Park.

Quakers led at half time, but the home side hit back with three in the first 25 minutes of the second half -- the second and third in the space of a minute -- to put them top of the table.

Quakers faced the wind and rain in the first half.

Quakers started with Stephen Thompson in centre midfield alongside Joe Wheatley . Alex Wollerton, playing wide right got past three men down the right before he was challenged in the penalty area.

Quakers had a chance on 8 minutes. Trotman and Wollerton exchanged passes neatly on the right, Wollerton drove the ball to the far side of the box, where Thompson fired over.

And there was another opportunity on 13 minutes when Kokolo beat two men on the left, found Nicholson who crossed into the middle for Nelson to control, but Urwin blocked at his feet.

With the wind behind them, Chorley then forced two corners that came to nothing.

Chorley replied with a shot by Carver that Maddison comfortably saved.

Quakers got a free kick for a foul on Nelson 30 yards out, and Galbraith curled the free kick into the keeper’s hands.

Chorley were then awarded a free kick in the centre circle which Blakeman tried his luck with on the strong wind, and his attempt went a couple of yards wide.

Louis Almond tried a low shot that Maddison saved low down to his left, but Nelson replied with a good low effort at the other end that Urwin stopped.

Chorley got round the back of the Darlington defence, and there was a scramble in the six yard box that saw Galbraith pull off a great block on a shot by Almond at close range, then Almond curled a 20 yarder just wide.

Quakers took the lead on 39 minutes. Saunders beat two men in midfield and threaded the ball through for Andrew Nelson to go running through and dink the ball over the advancing keeper for a well-taken goal.

Half time:

Chorley 0 Darlington 1

Chorley subbed their keeper at half time, Matt Urwin being replaced by Danny Eccles.

There was a half chance for Chorley when Alex Newby crossed low for Marcus Carver to poke wide, then Hooper scooped another effort over the bar.

Alex Newby had a shot saved by Maddison as Chorley stepped up the pressure.

Chorley levelled on 54 minutes. A left wing corner went into the Quakers box, Teague headed towards goal, Maddison parried, and Carver was on hand to drive the ball home.

Carver then wasted another chance by firing across the face of goal.

Quakers then took off Kokolo with O’Hanlon coming on

Quakers nearly went back into the lead on the hour when Saunders released Nelson in the box, but Eccles saved at his feet, then O’Hanlon set up Nicholson, and his low shot went just wide of the right hand post.

Nelson then produced some great skill when he controlled the ball on the right, turned and hit a low left foot shot that the keeper just managed to push away.

But Chorley went in front on 66 minutes when Teague found space to pick up a pass from the left, and beat Maddison with a low left shot, and within a minute, Maddison couldn’t hold a shot and Alex Newby tapped in the rebound for 3-1.

Quakers nearly pulled one back when Nicholson won the ball on the edge of the Chorley box, but his shot was blocked.

Quakers broke through on 85 minutes when O’Hanlon found Nelson bursting down the left with a good pass, and the striker coolly ran on and lifted the ball over the advancing keeper for his second of the game.

Final score

Chorley 3 Darlington 2

attendance 737

Chorley: Urwin (sub Eccles 46), Challoner, Blakeman, Teague, Anson, Jordan (sub Hooper 38), A Newby, O'Keefe, Carver, Almond, E Newby

Subs: Whitham, Cottrell, Wilson

Darlington: Maddison, Trotman, Kokolo (sub O'Hanlon 58), Wheatley, Burn, Galbraith, Wollerton, Nicholson, Saunders, Nelson, Thompson

Subs: O'Hanlon, Hall, Glover, Lingthep, Morrison