DARLINGTON'S first visit to Glanford Park in 18 years saw them extend their losing start to the season to three matches.

Scunthorpe scored twice in the first half, when Quakers also had their fair share of chances. Again, their luck was against them when Scunthorpe, who have spent big to get instant promotion, opened the scoring with the help of a deflection.

Scunthorpe nearly took the lead on three minutes, when Reagan Ogle collected a long ball on the Scunthorpe right and pulled it back for Cameron Wilson, who had a shot blocked.

Two minutes later, Quakers, with new signing Will Hatfield making his second debut, nearly took the lead when Jake Lawlor won the ball inside his own half and played a great ball up the left for Jacob Hazel to run on to, but Ross Fitzsimons blocked his shot with his legs.

Then Andrew Nelson ran forward, and from the edge of the box forced Fitzsimons into a save low down to his right.

Darlington keeper Tommy Taylor pulled off an excellent save on 17 minutes, when Jacob Butterfield found space on the edge of the area to hit a left-foot shot that Taylor palmed away from the top-right corner.

Play swung to the other end, and Nelson controlled a long ball on the left and set up Ben Liddle, who put a left-foot shot just over the top.

But Scunthorpe took the lead on 27 minutes. They won possession just outside the visitors’ box and the ball fell for Danny Whitehall, who hit a left-foot shot that seemed to take a deflection and beat Taylor.

After Nelson put a left-foot shot over the top, Scunthorpe made it 2-0 on 41 minutes.

Jordan Windass was pulled up for a foul 25 yards out, and Whitehall curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner with Taylor helpless.

Scunthorpe nearly got a third, when Butterfield found space on the edge of the area, but he fired straight at Taylor.

As Scunthorpe sat back and made it difficult for the visitors, Quakers then made three subs, Adriano Moke, Mitch Curry and Cameron Salkeld replacing Ben Liddle, Jacob Hazel and Jordan Windass.

Salkeld just failed to get a touch to a through ball from Mustoe in front of goal, but the game was just about over on 77 minutes when Alfie Beestin burst through the middle and beat Taylor.

And the home side nearly got another when sub Danny Elliott cut in from the left and hit a right-foot shot that smacked against the crossbar.

A mistake in the Darlington midfield let Elliott get away, and his effort was deflected just past the post.

It was 4-0 right at the end when sub Dion Sembie-Ferris broke away on the right and beat Taylor with another deflected shot.