Chorley 1 Darlington 1

They drew 1-1, a result which sees Darlington leapfrogged by Halifax Town and drop a place to seventh, three points off the play-offs.

Kevin Burgess gave Quakers the lead early on before Chorley levelled before the break in what was an open contest of many chances, but the scoreline was a fair reflection.

A week after a 3-1 defeat to Chorley, when Quakers’ defending was poor, today represented the improvement manager Martin Gray was looking for.

He had made several changes to his team, and switched to 4-3-3.

With both right-backs, Liam Marrs and Chris Hunter, injured midfielder Josh Falkingham was called upon, while Dave Syers was recalled on the right of midfield, but it was on the left side of the pitch where Gray made the most noteworthy alterations.

Most of the goals conceded this season have been down their left, so the manager axed both Terry Galbraith and Josh Gillies.

In their places were David Ferguson and Stephen Thompson, and it meant Galbraith’s run of 64 consecutive league matches ended. He had started every match since September 21, 2015.

Following his goalscoring appearance from the bench, Nathan Cartman was recalled and he almost scored after 65 seconds, a rising shot going just over the crossbar after Stephen Thompson’s lay-off.

It proved to be the first of several chances at both ends in an open first 45 minutes.

Darlington had an escape when they fell asleep at a throw in, Marcus Carver playing the ball across the six-yard box where Josh Falkingham cleared it away from Cottrell. And then Carver scuffed an opportunity when a ball was payed into the penalty area, keeper Ed Wilczynski gathering easily.

Dave Syers volleyed over at a stretch, the ball falling to him at the far post after a Ferguson free-kick.

A Chorley corner, too high for Burgess to deal with, fell to Andy Teague whose shot went through team-mate Jack Sampson’s legs before Wilczynski grabbed the ball.

But then Darlington took the lead on 16 minutes. Stephen Thompson’s volley hit Teague and went out for corner, taken by Ferguson.

The delivery was headed back across goal by Syers and enabled Burgess to force the ball home at close-range for his fourth goal of the season.

It was soon almost 2-0 from another Ferguson corner, Dave Syers’ powerful header booted clear by a Chorley defender.

Cartman saw sight of goal, running on to a ball from midfield, but his attempted chip went horribly wrong, rolling into the keeper’s hands.

The chances continued to come in an entertaining contest.

Chorley’s Will Beesley got forward from left-back to deliver a cross, headed by Sampson and saved by Wilcznski, and in the space of a couple of seconds both Syers and Mark Beck cleared off the Quakers line after an inswinging corner.

But on Chorley were level on 34 minutes, Carver blasting home from 18 yards after a lay-off by Sampson.

Darlington twice more had chances to retake the lead before the break, Syers trying a lob when one-on-one that was pushed wide by keeper Ritchie Branagan, who soon made another save, this time denying Cartman at close-range after he’d been played in by Thompson.

The second half began with Wilczynski catching a Dale Whitham header comfortably after a left-wing cross, thereafter Quakers going on to create a glut of chances.

Beck was on top of his game, winning plenty of aerial duels and when he nodded down to Syers, Cartman was then played in but his attempt at curling the ball into the corner of the net was off-target, the ball landing in the terracing behind Branagan’s goal.

From another Beck knock-down, this time to Cartman, a low shot pushed wide by the keeper who would prove to Quakers’ nemesis, and soon he gathered a Thompson free-kick at the second attempt.

Darlington started second half well, and they were handed another opportunity this due to a slack pass just after the hour when Branagan gave the ball to Thompson.

However, with options either side of him the forward held on to the ball too long and was eventually tackled by Scott Leather.

Chorley’s first sight of goal in the second half did not come until the 69th minute, Sampson flashing a shot wide of the far post when shooting across a crowded penalty area.

Quakers continued to ask questions of Chorley and they should have been a penalty when Thompson was clattered by Branagan.

The forward chased a Gary Brown ball forward, but he was impeded by the keeper yet the referee decided against awarding a spot-kick, a decision which stunned Darlington, leaving Gray livid and Thompson dumbfounded.

After a Darlington attack down the left, Cartman dragged a shot wide of the far post, and then Burgess headed back across goal after a corner by Gillies, the substitute, but there was nobody on hand to turn the loose ball home.

Quakers were fortunate when Sampson missing the ball close to Darlington’s six-yard box in a rare Chorley attack, and the hosts had another opportunity when Carver shot on the turn, his effort going just wide of the post.

It was end-to-end on occasion, almost like a cup tie with both teams getting deep into opposition territory.

Thompson used his strength to carry the ball forward, holding off his man and while his cross was over-hit, Gillies returned for Beck whose header was saved, a simple catch for Branagan.

Quakers were not clinical enough in front of goal, giving the Chorley keeper ample opportunity to make saves, and Beck’s header was a typical example.

The final opportunity fell to Darlington in the closing stages. Thompson was through after a flick on by Beck, Branagan saving the day for Chorley again at close-range.

He had made four or five good saves, and was named by Chorley’s sponsors as their man of the match.

Goals: Burgess (16, 0-1); Carver (34, 1-1)

Bookings: Jordan (17, foul), O’Keefe (90, foul)

Referee: Stephen Copeland

Attendance: 1,387

Chorley (3-5-2): Branagan; Teague, Leather, Jordan; Challoner, Blakeman, Whitham (O’Keefe 69), Cottrell, Beesley; Sampson, Carver (McDaid 82). Subs (not used): Charnock, Azam, Roscoe

Darlington (4-3-3): Wilczynski; Falkingham, Brown, Burgess, Ferguson; Syers (Galbraith 82), Scott, Turnbull; Thompson (Saunders 90); Cartman (Gillies 75), Beck. Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Blackford