ALUN ARMSTRONG lamented Darlington’s defending which led to defeat at King’s Lynn Town.

He identified Josh Heaton has being involved in both of the goals in Quakers’ 2-0 defeat, the third time Armstrong’s side have lost in four away games this season.

And not for the first time lapse defending was central to Darlington’s downfall.

A frustrated Armstrong said: “If you look at the goals it’s basic errors, I keep going over it. The lads are shouting and arguing in there. At the end of the day King’s Lynn didn’t have to do anything to score those goals.

“First one, Josh has just got to put his foot through it, I don’t know why he’s waiting for Chris Elliott, Chris didn’t say anything.

“The second one, he’s stood square and let the runner go.

“We never get opportunities like that, we’ve got to manipulate the ball, switch it to try and get them openings, but you can’t give goals away like that.

“I sound like a broken record, it’s ridiculous.”

It had been a largely even contest in the first half which was goalless, with both Heaton and Louis Laing going close to scoring with headers.

But the Linnets’ Chris Henderson scored twice inside the first 15 minutes of the second half.

“It’s a long punt up the field and a runner, not dealing with the ball. If you can’t get the basics right you’re not going to win a game of football,” added Armstrong.

“We should be coming away with a point at least. It wasn’t a great game, I think we cancelled each other out and there wasn’t much football played.

“I think we had the best chances in the first half, the two headers, then [at half-time] the lads discussed what to do in the second half. But you cannot give goals away like that.”