Quakers suffered only their fifth away defeat of the season when they went down at Salford.

Quakers didn't have the best of days defensively, and were suspect against long throws and setpieces, but the players still put in plenty of effort in front of 400 travelling fans.

Despite the defeat, Quakers still finished in fifth place, which would have been enough for a play off place -- a great achievement after starting with nothing five years ago.

There is an interview with manager Martin Gray on the website here.

http://darlingtonfc.co.uk/mg-its-still-been-a-great-season/

Salford had a long throw from the right in the first minute, but Bartlett confidently punched the ball away.

The home side went close on 5 minutes, a free kick from the right was curled in by O’Halloran, and Simon Grand’s header was deflected against the bar.

Gary Brown was booked for a foul on Phenix on 7 minutes, and Salford scored from the free kick from their right hand side.

The ball was curled in by Sam Walker, and the ball dropped for Simon Grand ten yards out to hammer home past the stranded Adam Bartlett.

It was nearly 2-0 on 12 minutes when Mike Phenix ran at the defence on the left and tried a right foot shot that took a deflection off Liam Marrs and looped just past the far post.

Quakers had a their first chance on 14 minutes when Josh Gillies slipped past two defenders, played a 1-2 with Cartman, but his shot  from ten yards was blocked by a defender.

Quakers nearly equalised on 17 minutes. Gary Brown’s shot was deflected into the path of Cartman ten yards out, and his left foot shot beat Jay Lynch, but then hit the inside of both posts before ending up in the keeper’s grateful hands.

 Quakers levelled on 20 minutes. Gillies mishit his effort from 25 yards, but the ball ran for Cartman, who played the ball sideways to Beck, who slotted the ball past Lynch for his 18th goal of the season.

Salford nearly regained the lead on 28 minutes. A long throw from the right was flicked on by Norris for Phenix to get in a header from a few yards out, but Bartlett somehow managed to keep the ball out.

Quakers went up the other end and Stephen Thompson tried to chip Lynch, but the keeper kept his feet well and held on to the ball.

But Quakers went behind again on 37 minutes. Another long throw came in from the right from Hine, and Gary Brown, under a lot of pressure, deflected the ball into his own net.

It was 3-1 on 40 minutes. A corner from the right was headed back at the far post by Norris, for Michael Nottingham to head past the stranded Bartlett.

Half time

Salford City 3 Darlington 1

It was nearly 4-1 on 51 minutes when Hulme played a 1-2 with Phenix, and his right foot shot was well saved by Bartlett, who recovered well and blocked the follow up

But Salford scored from the corner, that was swung over by Walker from the right to the far post where Fraser Horsfall headed home from a couple of yards.

Salford were awarded a penalty on 65 minutes when Phenix burst into the box and was tripped by Chris Hunter. The referee pointed to the spot from where Walker fired over the bar.

Quakers tried to get back into the game, but Lynch saved a left foot shot by Beck, and sub Josh Falkingham fired wide.

Stephen Thompson was also off target with a 25 yarder as Quakers kept going.

However, Norris got the fifth with ten minutes left, when Quakers didn’t get a free kick away, and his left foot shot was deflected into the net off Brown.

On the final whistle, the players were given a fantastic ovation by the 400 travelling fans, and the players responded likewise.

Not the result that Quakers wanted, but nevertheless Quakers have still had a fantastic season.

Final score:

Salford City 5 Darlington 1

Darlington:

Bartlett, Marrs, Ferguson, Turnbull (sub Falkingham 53), Hunter, Brown, Thompson, Syers (sub Scott 53), Beck, Cartman (sub Saunders 67), Gillies

Subs:  Wearmouth, Wilczynski

Salford

Lynch, Nottingham, O’Halloran, Walker (sub Haughton 65), Grand, Horsfall, Hulme (sub Barnes 65), Johnston (sub Allen 64), Phenix, Norris, Hine

Priestley,  King

Ref D Underwood

Attendance 2,580.