ALL the goals came in the second half with skipper Kevin Burgess scoring twice as Darlington completed a comfortable 3-0 win with a strong team perforance against Colwyn Bay.

They were on top throughout and fully deserved the win at Heritage Park, their first of 2016, although they stay sixth in the table, a point behind fifth-placed Nantwich.

Despite it being one-way traffic, however, and playing some excellent football on a heavy surface they were unable to make the breakthrough before half-time.

Twice they hit the woodwork inside the first 45 minutes, Adam Mitchell hitting the top of the bar with an early free-kick, and then Leon Scott saw a shot rebound off the outside of the post.

Too often focus was on referee Graeme Hopper, particularly during a spell when Lee Gaskell appeared to be held back by Bay left-back Mike Lea in the penalty area.

Hopper waved play on, and he again incurred the wrath of Darlington fans when he did not show a yellow card despite Cartman suffering a head wound, which required bandaging, when fouled by Bradley Bauress.

The Gateshead-based referee’s leniency in dealing with that incident appeared out of place when, just before half-time, he booked Stephen Thompson for delaying a free-kick.

Quakers continued to dominate after the break and took the lead from the penalty spot on 53 minutes through Terry Galbraith.

He sent goalkeeper Shaun Pearson the wrong way after Bay’s Jordan Fagbold tripped Lee Gaskell as he sought to bury a loose ball after Nathan Cartman had hit the post.

It was soon 2-0. Burgess, who stayed up field after a set-piece, turned in from close-range after Cartman delivered the final pass across goal.

With the points won, the game lost some energy for a spell, Quakers content to play keep-ball, though it should’ve been 3-0 when Scott put a goal on plate for Cartman, but he put the ball over the crossbar from close-range.

Late on, however, came the final goal when Burgess scored again.

The captain also scored in a 4-2 win at Colwyn Bay in August and he firmly headed home after meeting a Galbraith corner.

In the final minute Colwyn Bay keeper Pearson limped off injured and was replaced between the sticks by outfield player Luke Denson.

“Shots on target, shots on target,” shouted Burgess to his team-mates, and Quakers came close to another goal.

They hit the bar with a header by Graeme Armstrong, on for Cartman, and while a goalmouth scramble ensued, Scott then blasted over from 12 yards.

Goals: Galbraith (53, 1-0), Burgess (58, 2-0), Burgess (83, 3-0)

Bookings: Thompson (36, dissent); Roberts-Nurse (41, foul), Harper (dissent 47, dissent), Fagbold (52, foul), Pearson (52, dissent); Mitchell (72, dissent)

Referee: Graeme Hopper (Gateshead)

Attendance: 1,077

Darlington: Jameson; Hunter, Burgess, Brown, Galbraith; Mitchell, Turnbull, Scott, Thompson (Portas 80); Gaskell (Dowson 71), Cartman (Armstrong 83). Subs (not used): Provett (gk), Nowakowski

Colwyn Bay: Pearson (Dowling 90); Roberts-Nurse, Fagbold, Boland, Lea; Denson, Beuress, Rodgers, Harper (Williams 63); Tuck (Boothman 70), Sumner. Subs (not used): Bell, Matthews