Luke Charman powered Darlington to their first home win of the season at the fifth attempt, providing the perfect tonic for manager Alun Armstrong.

He missed today’s match at Blackwell Meadows with AFC Telford United after being rushed to hospital yesterday for hernia surgery.

So three points provided the perfect fillip for the boss, with Charman’s double putting Darlington on path for the win followed by a Kevin Dos Santos strike which put the gloss on a one-sided contest.

Quakers were in control throughout, overpowering a poor Telford side, who have dropped to 20th while Darlington are 15th.

With Armstrong absent, assistant manager Darren Holloway was in charge and he saw Quakers start the contest well, going 1-0 up after 17 minutes with Charman rifling home from 18 yards.

After Dos Santos’ shot had been parried by goalkeeper Russell Griffiths, Charman was in the right place to gobble up the loose ball.

Telford were the weakest opposition to visit Blackwell Meadows so far this season and Quakers created a number of first-half shooting opportunities without adding to their advantage.

Charman saw a 25-yard blast deflected over, Will Hatfield had a low shot caught by Griffiths, and Ben Hedley’s shot went over after the right-back had cut inside.

Darlington were given a warning early in the second half when Jason Oswell’s diving header brushed the top of the bar after meeting Elliott Durrell’s delivery.

But Darlington had the breathing space their control merited when Charman lashed home from 25 yards for 2-0. It was a fine strike after a move that began with new signing Danny Ellis’ cross-field pass to Jake Cassidy.

The goal took hotshot Charman’s tally to six in nine appearances for the season, as many goals as he managed in 14 games all last campaign.

He now has 12 goals in 23 Darlington appearances in all competitions since signing in the summer of 2020, and has scored in each of his last five league games.

But the final word went to winger Dos Santos. Recalled to the starting XI and with Darlington switching to 4-4-2, the summer signing had his best game yet for the club and crowned his performance with a fine goal.

After Jarrett Rivers had charged down a Telford clearance on halfway, Joe Wheatley played in Dos Santos who ran at the defence before lashing the ball emphatically into the net.

Quakers will hope for more of the same when they host Hereford next Saturday.

Darlington (4-4-2): T Taylor; Hedley, Storey, Ellis, Smith; Rivers (Lambert 90), Hatfield (Purver 88), Wheatley, Dos Santos (Mondal 89); Charman, Cassidy. Subs not used: B Taylor, Nelson

AFC Telford United (3-5-1-1): Griffiths; Roberts, Streete, White; Jed Abbey (Hamilton 68), Durrell, Walker, Byrne, Beikoe; Bennett (Williams 68); Oswell. Subs not used: Birch, Huffer, Jez Abbey