A POOR second-half display saw Darlington slip to another league defeat, 2-1 at home to AFC Telford United.

They played well for the majority of the first half, but were second best after the break when Dom McHale’s goal earned Telford their first win in five matches.

They went 1-0 up by exploiting poor Darlington defending, Jordan Davies getting down the right and swinging in a low cross that Jason Oswell got on the end of, afforded time in the heart of Quakers’ defence to turn and blast high into the net.

Soon, however, Darlington took control and it became one-way traffic as Alun Armstrong’s men created chance after chance.

A fierce Will Hatfield drive was saved by Russ Griffiths, and the goalkeeper also stopped Adam Campbell’s effort.

The equaliser came on 23 minutes after a Telford mishap. Theo Streete’s weak clearance was cut-out by Sean Reid, he passed to Campbell and his perfectly-weighted ball ahead of Erico Sousa led to the tricky winger sliding the ball under Griffiths for 1-1. 

Despite their dominance Darlington were unable to add a second before the break, and it was the visitors who went ahead again.

McHale’s low finish from the edge of the penalty area on 51 minutes after an attack up the left was Darlington’s undoing.

Michael Liddle saw a free-kick parried by Griffiths, and Alex Storey’s header, wide of goal, was as close as a flat Darlington came to an equaliser during a disappointing second-half display.

In the dying seconds Griffiths collected the ball close to the goal-line to ensure Telford won at Blackwell for the fourth time in six visits.