Darlington 0 AFC Telford United 1.

Below par Quakers saw their unbeaten start come to an end when they were beaten by a second half goal at home to Telford on Saturday – but manager Martin Gray is determined that they will bounce back.

The defeat proved that even though their opponents had lost their previous three matches, no team can be a pushover in this league, especially if they are as well-drilled as Telford were on Saturday. And with Quakers failing to reach the same high tempo and all-action performance that they displayed at York, Telford took advantage and gained a grip on the game early in the second half that they successfully held on to.

There was plenty of effort as usual from Quakers, but they couldn’t get the breaks in the Telford penalty area and the setback – their first in five league games -- means that they drop down the table into sixth, but nevertheless still nicely in the promotion race and a chance to regain lost ground this weekend against North Ferriby. A points average of two points per game still isn’t bad going.

Darlington manager Martin Gray thought that the game at York the previous Tuesday took more than expected out of the players. “I think a lot of work went into the game at York on Tuesday night and that was probably the toughest game that we’ve had so far this season. We looked very tired.

“We didn’t create so many chances from open play, but we had enough chances from setpieces and deadballs. There were two or three great opportunities from free kicks around their box in the first half but our setplays weren’t up to their usual standard unfortunately.

“Their keeper might have been red-carded for the challenge on Stephen Thompson. They’re fine lines and the referee has to make a big decision. On another day it could have been, but you shouldn’t be gambling on winning the game on their keeper being sent off.

“Telford are in a false position, I saw them play on Monday night. But what was most disappointing was that they didn’t really carve us open, they only had a couple of shots. I was disappointed with the goal we conceded because it was a soft goal. but they came and set their stall out.

“The most important thing is that we must react to this defeat by winning our next game. We need the break this midweek, and we’ll get the players back on the training ground. We’ve still had a good start to the season, three wins and a draw. It’s disappointing to lose, but we have a good game next week against North Ferriby and we need to make sure that we’re back at it.”

Skipper Phil Turnbull admitted that Quakers weren’t at their best. “Tt was a very disappointing result, we weren’t good enough. Everyone has off days and we certainly had one. Tuesday night’s game at York possibly took its toll on us, no doubt about it. We grafted more than what we thought we would have to at York, but that’s not an excuse. We’ve got to go out and keep a clean sheet regardless. We knew that a defeat would come over the course of the season, but it’s still disappointing when it happens.

“We didn’t create many chances. Fair play to Telford, they scored and made the game ugly. Our quality wasn’t good enough, and maybe we were a little too direct at times. But it’s one defeat in five, and we’re determined not to let that take away from the good start that we’ve had.”

Quakers put Telford under pressure with the wind behind them, and forced a couple of corners, but their main threat came from setpieces in the first half.

Terry Galbraith put one free kick just wide, and Josh Gillies curled another on to the top of the net, but the main talking point was whether Telford keeper Jasbir Singh should have been red carded for an illegal follow through on Stephen Thompson as he tried to clear the ball. The referee disagreed with the home fans and showed him yellow.

Telford’s Elliott Newby missed a good chance before half time when he fired cross Adam Bartlett’s goal, and he was involved in the game’s only goal a minute after half time, when he controlled a cross from the right by Matthew Barnes-Homer, fired towards goal, and after Bartlett parried the ball, Marcus Dinanga scored from the loose ball.

Bartlett pulled off a good low save from Kieran Dunbar shortly after, but after that, it was Quakers with the greater share of possession. However, they couldn’t break down a well-organised visiting defence that kept Mark Beck shackled, and their only clear chance dropped to David Syers with only nine minutes remaining, but he was inches off target.

Goal: Dinanga (46 mins).

Darlington (4-4-2).

Bartlett, Hunter, Collins, Galbraith, Ferguson, Gillies (sub Fenwick 75), Syers, Turnbull, Thompson (sub Scott 57), Beck, Caton (sub Saunders 59).

Subs not used: Wilczynski, Marrs.

Booking: Syers (dissent).

AFC Telford United (3-5-2).

Singh, White, Hayden, Sutton, Simpson, Lussey, Royle, Rea (sub Dunbar 54), Newby, Dinanga(sub Dwyer 90+2), Barnes-Homer (sub Strong 70).

Subs not used: Martinez, Marsh.

Bookings: Singh, Simpson, Hayden.

Referee: L Doughty.

Attendance: 1,532.