IT was a familiar scenario for Darlington who were left ruing their failure to take one of numerous chances during defeat today at Southport.

They had far more of the possession during the first half but, as at North Ferriby seven days ago, were unable to make the most of it and paid the price for their profligacy.

Unlike the Ferriby fixture, which ended 1-1, Darlington were unable to take a point today, losing 2-0 to Southport who had been a long second best before the break.

They hung on, however, and got the first goal of the game four minutes after the restart after a mistake in Darlington’s defence.

For most of the second half Quakers toiled and could have conceded a second goal soon after the first.

They rallied briefly, but they were unable to equalise, Southport sealing the points deep into added time.

It was an inconceivable scenario at half-time after what had beeen a first half of one-way traffic in Quakers’ favour.

Darlington did all of the running in the first half, but it was Southport who forced the first chance. After a cross by Chris Merrie from the right, the ball was headed wide by striker Yves Zama after beating the returning Kevin Burgess to the ball.

Burgess, wearing the skipper’s armband, was making his first appearance since last season, the centre-back replacing Gary Brown, while there was a change at right-back too.

Dominic Collins, man of the match on Monday against Spennymoor, moved to full-back in place of the injured Liam Marrs in the back four.

Another change saw James Caton recalled. He was on the right of midfield, Quakers, starting with a 4-4-1-1 line-up, Stephen Thompson again starting just behind Mark Beck.

Darlington were probing, looking for openings inside the opposition half, and Gillies had Darlington’s first two chances, blasting across goal with Thompson flinging himself at the ball without success, and then the winger’s volley brought a fine save out of Mark Halstead.

Dave Syers was next to try his luck, firing wide while aiming for the bottom corner.

Darlington were having chances but not taking them, similar to last Saturday at North Ferriby.

Phil Turnbull’s side-footed volley was blocked after Caton’s cross, and then Halstead showed quick reactions to keep out Beck. Turnbull’s ball up the left resulted in a Ferguson cross followed by Beck stooping low to head at goal.

Darlington were dominant but unable to turn their possession into goals. Gillies was denied twice within seconds, the first time when a corner was punched off the line by Halstead, the second one punched clear when he fired the ball back into the danger area.

For all that Quakers created far more than Southport, the best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to the hosts, and was wasted by Dominic Smith.

The Southport defender, up field for a set-piece, found himself unmarked and in acres of space in the centre of Quakers’ penalty area to meet a left-wing cross, but after taking a tough he blasted the ball high over Adam Bartlett’s goal.

It was an escape for Darlington, who were soon back into their stride.

A Gillies corner, won when Turnbull was tackled, found Syers at the far post, his header comfortably saved by Halstead.

And then Darlington hit the post, Stephen Thompson beating the keeper from 20 yards, but the ball hit the outside of the post.

If Darlington fans worried their team would pay their price for their wasting so many first-half chances then their worries were realised just four minutes into the second period when Southport took the lead.

The goal came from nowhere, but was one familiar to supporters as an error was Darlington’s downfall.

A ball up Southport’s right channel was misjudged by Burgess, the defender caught underneath the flight of the ball and Zama capitalised, nipping in to set up Sang to score.

The goal was the cue for Quakers to fall apart and Southport had chances for 2-0. Gary Roberts has two bites of the cherry, the first blocked, the second over bar.

Bartlett had to save from Sang and then gather the loose ball at the feet of Roberts, Darlington appearing to be in disarray, with Zama next to go close, heading onto the roof of the net after a right-wing cross.

With Quakers under the cosh, Galbraith had to leave the field with an injury and he was replaced by 18-year-old for Jack Vaulks, making his debut just 24 hours after signing for the club. He went to right-back with Collins moving into the centre.

In the final ten minutes Gillies would have had a great chance to level but lost his footing, slipping when attempting to connect with Beck’s knock-down and the chance was gone.

Gillies saw an inswinging corner punched clear by Halstead, and the keeper intervened again late on to deny Caton, the forward seeing a volley saved after Beck’s knock-down.

Six minutes of added time were signalled for Darlington to rescue a point, to launch a last hurrah, but it was Southport who added to the scoreline, Chris Merrie scoring from a central position around 25 yards out.

Goals: Sang (49, 1-0), Merrie (90, 2-0)

Bookings: Dugdale (37, foul), Roberts (81, foul); Collins (90, foul)

Referee: Ben Speedie

ttendance: 1,059

Southport (3-4-1-2): Halstead; Dugdale, Smith, White; Jackson, Merrie, Jennings (Fletcher 65), Jones; Roberts; Zama (Jones 60), Sang (Kpohomouh 87). Subs (not used): Schumacher, Boden

Darlington (4-4-1-1): Bartlett; Collins, Burgess, Galbraith (Vaulks 57), Ferguson; Caton, Syers (Saunders 75), Turnbull, Gillies; Thompson (Portas 70); Beck. Subs (not used): Wilczynski, Scott