DARLINGTON'S hopes of making the National League North play-offs suffered a blow as they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Chester.
Quakers conceded a goal in each half as they went down to defeat at Blackwell Meadows, with Jake Lawlor's stoppage-time strike proving little more than a consolation.
Chester opened the scoring five minutes before the interval, with Declan Weeks converting Charlie Caton's cross from the left-hand side.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark as Elliott Whitehouse skipped through two challenges and beat Tommy Taylor with a low shot that found the bottom left-hand corner.
Jacob Hazel came close for Darlington with a shot that was blocked by a defender, but Quakers pulled a goal back to no avail in stoppage time.
Kaine Felix's close-range shot was blocked on the goalline, and Lawlor was on hand to stab home the rebound.
Elsewhere in National League North, an 87th-minute goal from Glen Taylor was insufficient to prevent Spennymoor from suffering a 2-1 defeat at Buxton.
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