DARLINGTON endured a miserable afternoon at Salford City, ending their season with a chastening defeat.

It finished 5-1, Martin Gray’s men a long second best against a team who secured their place in the play-offs in emphatic style.

They needed only a point to be sure, whereas Darlington were playing only for pride after being told that they could not participate in the play-offs.

Nonetheless, Gray had wanted his team to play for pride and he was also eager to go for the third-place position that was possible prior to the game.

Instead, Quakers end the season in fifth, so Chorley take their place in the play-offs and will play Kidderminster.

Darlington started on the back-foot and stayed there for much of the first half, Salford forcing a high number of corners and free-kicks and they dangerous at them.

Gary Brown was inches away from an own goal, heading onto the top of his crossbar when dealing with a free-kick, and in poor half for the defender he was soon booked for tangling with Jordan Hulme.

It was a harsh caution, and his punishment was increased when Salford went 1-0 up after ten minutes.

Darlington failed to clear the resultant free-kick and Simon Grand fired home the loose ball.

Darlington were trouble here. Salford were in ascendancy and minutes after scoring Mike Phenix had shot deflected narrowly wide off Liam Marrs.

Darlington’s first chance did not come until the quarter hour mark, Josh Gillies at the centre of it.

He exchanged passes with Nathan Cartman, Gillies dribbling into the centre of the penalty before his effort was blocked by Grand.

It turned into a bright spell for Darlington, who looked dangerous in attack, and they were unfortunate not to equalise when Cartman beat keeper Jay Lynch with a shot that beat both posts, and then bounced back into the keeper's hands.

A linesman had raised a flag, believing Mark Beck was offside, but ref overruled him so a goal would have stood, but it was not to matter as Quakers soon levelled regardless.

After a spot of excellent football, a Gillies shot was blocked, Cartman gathered the loose ball and played in Beck who finished to record his 18th goal of the season.

Goalkeeper Adam Bartlett saved low to his right to keep out Phenix’s header at the far post after yet another long Salford throw, but the Salford striker should've done better.

Two goals inside four minutes, however, gave Salford a 3-1 lead at the break and quietened the Quakers fan who had been making plenty of noise.

City retook the lead from their umpteenth long throw of the day, a ball slung into penalty area and it was diverted into the net off Brown.

And it was 3-1 on 40 minutes after yet another corner. The ball was delivered to the back post, headed back across and tall right-back Michael Nottingham turned the ball in at close-range.

Salford had started the match emphatically, and they were on top as soon as the second half started too.

It was almost 4-1, Bartlett twice denying Hulme, the second save giving Salford yet another corner and this time the hosts scored their fourth goal.

An unmarked Fraser Horsfall headed in at the back post, poor defending, but another example of Salford’s superiority at set-pieces.

Immediately Darlington sent on Leon Scott and Josh Falkingham, replacing Phil Turnbull and Dave Syers in the centre of midfield, Martin Gray clearly feeling it was a weak point in his team’s display.

But it was soon almost 5-1. Josh Hine, in acres of space, drilled in a low shot that man of the match Bartlett turned wide.

It should’ve been 5-1 on 67 minutes, Darlington spare when Sam Walker’s woeful penalty was high and wide after Chris Hunter had tripped Hulme.

Bartlett to Darlington’s rescue again, saving with his feet from David Norris.

The chance came after substitute Richie Allen intercepted Chris Hunter’s header back to Bartlett, but there was nothing the goalkeeper could to stop itt becoming 5-1.

A David Norris shot took a heavy deflection after a corner, and that proved to be the final goal, giving Darlington their heaviest defeat of the season.

Goals: Grand (10, 1-0); Beck (21, 1-1); Brown (37, 2-1), Nottingham (40, 3-1), Horsfall (53, 4-1), Norris (80, 5-1)

Bookings: Brown (9, foul)

Referee: David Underwood

Salford City (4-4-2): Lynch; Nottingham, Grand, Horsfall, O’Halloran; Hine, Norris, Walker (Barnes 67), Johnston (Allen 64); Hulme (Haughton 67), Phenix. Subs (not used): Priestly, King

Darlington (4-4-2): Bartlett; Marrs, Hunter, Brown, Ferguson; Thompson, Syers (Scott 54), Turnbull (Falkingham 54), Gillies; Beck, Cartman (Saunders 67). Subs (not used): Wilczynski (gk), Wearmouth