DARLINGTON’S defensive woes were again highlighted when they lost 3-1 at home to Curzon Ashton today.

They have conceded the second highest number of goals of any team in the top ten of the division, with all three of today’s strikes coming via Curzon counterattacks.

They were too frequently caught out by a Curzon team who thoroughly deserved their victory against a Darlington side, who did not look much like a team in play-off contention.

Seeking to find a winning formula, manager Martin Gray made three personnel changes, giving first starts to goalkeeper Ed Wilczynzki, David Ferguson and recalling Liam Marrs while Darlington lined up in a 4-4-2 formation.

That saw Stephen Thompson start up front with Mark Beck and Ferguson on the left of midfield, Josh Gillies on the right, but it was the visitors who made the brighter start.

Chris Rowney had a sight of goal, letting fly from around 30 yards with the outside of his right foot, Wilczynski grateful to see it go over, but Curzon took the lead on ten minutes through Ryan Hall.

Gillies’ header was not good enough to deal with a punt down the pitch from goalkeeper Hakam Burton, the ball falling to Matthew Warburton who took the ball past Marrs and crossed for Hall to slam home.

Wilczynski then made his first save, comfortably catching Warburton’s header after a swift Curzon break, after which Darlington went on to enjoy plenty of possession without hurting the opposition.

A Gary Brown long throw bounced through a clutch of bodies, with nobody able to get a foot to it before Curzon cleared, Terry Galbraith swung in a free-kick, won when Connor Hampson fouled Marrs, but it was collected easily by Burton.

Galbraith fired across the penalty area and beyond the far post, and then a cross from the left-back appeared to be headed behind by Ashton’s Jamie Stott, but referee David Underwood awarded a goal kick.

Underwood erred when he made the startling decision to book Brown, despite the Darlington defender making a perfectly-executed slide-tackle on Hall.

Brown walked away with his hands on his head, stunned by a mistake from an official who said excessive force had been used.

Quakers fans made their feelings clear about the incident. They had not had much to shout about before the break, but Darlington began the second half with more fire in their belly.

Thompson lifted the ball over from 20 yards after the overlapping Josh Falkingham, on at the break for the injufred Marrs, played the ball inside.

Curzon countered quickly, Warburton’s rising drive just the wrong side of the post, before Galbraith cross was headed wide by Beck.

But it was 2-0 on 57 minutes. A clearance by Wilczynski was seized on by Rowney whose first-time pass left Warburton one on one and he kept his cool to make it 2-0.

He secured the points ten minutes later when Hall turned provider. The move started deep in Curzon’s half, the visitors attacking up Quakers’ left before Brown slipped when tracking Hall which gave him time to pick out Warburton to tap home.

Quakers substitute Nathan Cartman pulled one back with a header after a Phil Turnbull free-kick, and Darlington rallied in the closing stages, however, they could not beat Burton again.

It is in defence where their problems lie having now conceded at least twice in ten of their last 11 games in league and cup.

Goals: Hall (10, 0-1), Warburton (57, 0-2), Warburton (66, 0-3); Cartman (71, 1-3)

Bookings: Hall (30 foul); Brown (38, foul); Hampson (70, foul), Burton (85, time wasting)

Referee: David Underwood

Attendance: 1,761

Darlington (4-4-2): Wilczynski; Marrs (Falkingham 46), Burgess, Brown, Galbraith; Gillies (Cartman 61), Scott (Syers 61), Turnbull, Ferguson; Thompson, Beck. Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Saunders

Curzon Ashton (5-3-2): Burton; Baillie, Shaw, Hunt, Stott, Howard (Jennings 90); Hall, Hampson, Rowney (Clark 84); Cummins, Warburton (Tomsett 74). Subs (not used): Wright, Ennis