Darlington lost to a goal in each half at Silverlands – their first defeat on the opening day of the season for five years.

Darlington manager Martin Gray had to make a change on 8 minutes when Adam Nowakowski, who had started up front with Nathan Cartman, had to be helped off the field with an injury to his left eye following an aerial challenge, and was replaced by David Dowson.

They went behind to an untypical goal on 18 minutes when Greg Young, who played for Quakers in the Conference season, was left completely unmarked to head against the post, and Ash Burbeary stroked the rebound home.

Quakers nearly levelled with a curling free kick from the edge of the box by Terry Galbraith, that was deflected just wide, and then they had loud penalty claims turned down when Dowson’s shot was blocked by Young’s outstretched hand.

After a good spell of press re before half time, Quakers had hopes of getting back into the game at the start of the second half, but within 90 seconds of the restart they went further behind, when Burbeary curled a free kick perfectly in from the right for Liam Hardy to head firmly past Jameson.

Quakers nearly pulled a goal back when Phil Turnbull headed an Adam Mitchell cross into the six yard box, where Nathan Cartman’s stooping header was somehow stopped by the trailing leg of keeper Phil Barnes.

The keeper pulled off a better save on 73 minutes, throwing himself to his left to push away a header by Terry Galbraith from an Adam Mitchell free kick.

Barnes saved another header from Galbraith, then his defensive wall blocked an indirect free kick by Thompson.

Jameson, Gibbons, Burgess, Hunter, Galbraith; Thompson, Turnbull, Portas, Mitchell; Nowakowski (sub Dowson 12, sub Armstrong 60), Cartman.

Subs not used; White, Scott, Provett.

Barnes, Leta, Green, Ravenhill, Gascoigne, Young, Abadaki (sub Barraclough 55) Burrell, Taylor, Hardy, Burbeary (sub Doran 55).

Subs not used: Worsfold, Williams, Jameson.

Referee: Luke Watson (Barnsley).

Attendance 708.