DARLINGTON'S five-game unbeaten run came to an end last night as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat at York City's LNER Community Stadium.

Quakers were hoping to climb into the play-off spots, but they were beaten by three goals inside 11 minutes in the second half, just after Alun Armstrong's side had hit the bar.

Quakers started the game the brighter of the two sides. A free-kick by former York player Kallum Griffiths caused problems in the York box, and Jake Lawlor put a looping header into the hands of former Darlington keeper Pete Jameson.

They had a better chance on 11 minutes when a long clearance by Tommy Taylor was headed by the York defence straight to former York striker Jake Cassidy, who ran forward and struck a right-foot shot just over the top.

York went close on 14 minutes when Kurt Willoughby picked the ball up on the left and curled a right-foot shot just over the bar from 25 yards.

Griffiths was in the right place to block a shot from Paddy McLaughlin as York built up momentum, but Quakers were always a threat on the counter attack and new signing Cameron Thompson finished one break by firing over the top.

York sub Lenell John-Lewis nearly opened the scoring when he beat David Wheater to the ball, ran into the box, but Taylor beat his shot away, and then the keeper denied him again from his low shot.

Just before half-time the ball dropped to Thompson just inside the area, but a defender deflected his effort wide.

In the second half, a great run by Thompson ended with Dos Santos being denied at the far post on 59 minutes.

Three minutes later, Quakers, who looked the more likely to open the scoring, came the closest yet when Rivers set up Cassidy, whose right foot skimmed the bar from the edge of the box.

York stunned Quakers by taking the lead on 69 minutes. Willoughby picked the ball up on the left, crossed hopefully into the middle, but the ball went over everyone into the net.

A minute later, it was 2-0, when Mitch Hancox broke through with the Darlington defence appealing for offside, and he slotted the ball past Taylor.

And Quakers went 3-0 down on 80 minutes when sub Clayton Donaldson tangled with Wheater in the area and the referee pointed to the spot, from where Donaldson scored.

Quakers pulled a goal back in stoppage-time when Thompson dribbled through the York defence and beat Jameson.