Darlington 0 Northwich Victoria 1

If Darlington want promotion, they’ve got an odd way of showing it because they’ve been making a right mess of things lately.

Six points behind leaders Salford City with five games in hand only a matter of weeks ago, their position of strength has rapidly disappeared, dissolving amid shock defeats and defensive mistakes.

An awful run has come at exactly the wrong time, opening the door to grateful promotion rivals who cannot believe their luck as Quakers capitulate.

Having suffered defeat only twice in their first 23 fixtures, Darlington have now lost five times in ten matches – they only lost five league games in the entirety of 2014.

Northwich Victoria were the latest to deliver a body blow to promotion hopes, the Cheshire side winning 1-0 at Heritage Park to draw level in the table, leaving Salford to again take ownership of first position and Darlington to ponder what happens next.

It’s up to manager Martin Gray to guide them out of this poor run, and he remains firm in his belief that his team can finish on top.

“We’re still in a great position to win the league, it’s important that we have a strong togetherness now more than ever,” he said.

“Let’s be positive. What Salford do is not as important as what we do.

“It’s our jobs as players and staff to have self-belief and we have got to keep together for the rest of the season. We need to stick together.”

Four defeats have come in Quakers’ last six games, during which time they have conceded 11 goals, a previously stubborn defence now porous and Northwich’s winner marked a low point.

Iain Howard’s sixth-minute corner went into the net directly from his delivery, the ball curling in at the near post of goalkeeper Peter Jameson.

“One of their players got across Leon Scott at the near post,” said Gray. “It was a rubbish corner from their point of view, one of them scruffy ones, nobody touched it and it sneaked in.

“It happens from time to time, but you’ve got to be able to defend set-pieces in any game.

“We made a mistake today and paid for it.”

It was the third time in six matches Darlington have fallen a goal behind inside ten minutes, and for the remainder of the contest they struggled to find a breakthrough against well-organised side with a defence-first policy.

Northwich, managed by Jim Gannon, the ex-Stockport County boss, were notable for their height with beanpole striker Richie Bennett typical of his team, relishing the physical battle.

He was one his own up front, but kept centre-backs Liam Hatch and Chris Hunter occupied.

Gary Brown was back on the bench, not fully recovered from a groin strain having played through the pain barrier in last Wednesday’s win over Lancaster City.

The Vics supplemented their physical advantage when substitute Danny Meadowcroft entered the fray midway through the first half for the injured Guy Ansah Palmer.

Another one from the Land of the Giants, Meadowcroft played just in front of a five-man defence, which dealt comfortably with any high balls that came their way.

It was an occasion when the absence of Amar Purewal, injured long-term, was sorely felt, Graeme Armstrong sadly not the same presence in the air.

Gray added: “We dominated for 90 minutes, but we gave them a goal when nobody had touched the ball and it went in the net, a mistake.

“Until the last ten minutes when we were going for it, they had one shot.

“Fair play to them. Their manager came with a game-plan, they played 5-4-1, they parked the bus and did what they had to do.

“You’ve got to admire the way they set up, but having said that it’s a very frustrating day because I think we did more than enough to get something from the game.

“The goal suited them, they had something to hang on to. I’m sure they would’ve been happy with a draw beforehand, but they got a goal and hung on.

“We couldn’t break them down, we didn’t test the keeper, he didn’t have to make any outstanding saves, it was just balls into the box.”

With general play proving fruitless, Darlington’s best hope was a set-piece or a long-range effort and Hatch did test keeper Tim Deasy from the edge of the box, while Terry Galbraith saw an effort trickle wide from similar range.

But that was close as Quakers got.

They simply had no answer to Northwich’s physicality and organised defence, which succeeded in nullifying an attack short on ideas.

It’s not all doom and gloom as Darlington retain a game in hand on Salford and their next two fixtures are winnable (Prescot Cables and New Mills), against whom victories would at least restore some hope.

Goal: Howard (5, 0-1)

Booking: Deasy (90, time wasting)

Referee: Marc Edwards (Gateshead) 7

Attendance: 1,112

Entertainment: PPP

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson 6; A Mitchell 5, Hatch 6, HUNTER 7, Watson 6 (Brown 87); Thompson 6, Portas 6, Scott 6 (Mota 58, 5), Galbraith 4; Armstrong 6, Dowson 6 (Cartman 58, 6). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Young, Brown

Northwich Victoria (5-4-1): Deasy 6; Smalley 7, Clarke 7, Henry 7, ALI 7, Cook 7; Howard, Palmer 6 (Meadowcroft 26, 7), Burnett 7, Grayson 6 (Fishwick 46, 6); Bennett 7 (Natachemendes 89). Subs (not used): Smith (gk), Amis

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