Darlington’s rejuvenation continues.

Four days after a shock 2-1 win at AFC Fylde, midtable Quakers overcame Chorley, who are another of the sides occupying a play-off place, and now Alun Armstrong’s men are four points off seventh.

It also leaves all concerned frustrated about the recent four-game losing run, since when Quakers have taken ten points from 12.

Darlington dropped down the table during the losing run, and some supporters used social media to call for a change of manager.

The dissenters have been silenced this week, with Tuesday’s win followed by an excellent performance today.

Chorley started strongly. Quakers keeper Tommy Taylor dropped Jon Ustabasi’s cross on the line before Darlington scrambled clear, striker Jack Sampson headed over at a corner and Ustabasi made a penetrating run that came to an end when Darlington debutant David Wheater got a foot in.

Wheater’s signing, revealed by The Northern Echo on Friday night, has been a long time coming, the giant centre-back having spent weeks working on his fitness with Quakers physio Danny O’Connor.

But he wasted little time in slotting into the middle of Darlington’s defence alongside Jake Lawlor, helping Taylor keep his first clean sheet in eight games.

The goalkeeper’s best save came when he denied Billy Whitehouse. Playing on the right of Chorley’s midfield, he was a danger before the break, and he cut inside to unleash a low drive from around 25 yards that Taylor tipped around the post.

Darlington went ahead with their first effort on target.

Left-back Ben Hedley controlled a pass from the right, carried the ball forward before picking out Tyrone O’Neill with a cross that the striker headed beyond goalkeeper Matt Urwin.

O’Neill, though slightly built, stood his ground well against a Chorley defender to win the header, scoring the kind of goal Jake Cassidy was brought to the club for. Cassidy was an unused substitute today.

Darlington were the better team thereafter, and despite losing Junior Mondal to a hamstring strain, his replacement Jarrett Rivers was on the scoresheet next.

Nine minutes after the restart, he made it 2-0 by poking home at close-range after a sharp turn and cross inside the penalty area by fans’ favourite Kevin Dos Santos.

And it was 3-0 and game over just before the hour mark when Will Hatfield smashed a rising drive high into the net to complete Chorley’s heaviest defeat since August.

In high spirits and now 12th, Darlington fans will already be relishing next weekend’s home game with 18th-placed Blyth Spartans.

Darlington (4-4-2): Taylor; Griffiths, Wheater, Lawlor, Hedley; Dos Santos (Purver 81), Hatfield, Rose (Wheatley 85), Lambert; O’Neill, Mondal (Rivers 34). Subs not used: Martin, Cassidy

Chorley (4-4-2): Urwin; Senior (Alli 62), Leather, Baines, Blakeman (Smith 65); Whitehouse, Calveley, Shenton, Ustabasi; Sampson, Hall (Holmes 75). Subs not used: Blyth, Okome

Attendance: 1,331