Darlington are still searching for their first point of the season and for the second weekend in a row they missed a late penalty kick which could have handed them a share of the spoils. Substitute David Dowson was bought down in the Port Vale penalty area ten minutes from time by Gareth Owen. Gary Smith's spot kick was fired well wide as the visitors missed an opportunity to level the scores.

Quakers rallied in the closing stages against a nervous looking Port Vale side but failed to make the most of the chance which came their way and struggled to test Chris Martin in goal.

Darlington manager Colin Todd bought Dean Windass back into the starting eleven. Young Dowson, who is on loan from Sunderland, was moved to the bench to give him a breather whilst Paul Arnison was absent at the back with a hamstring strain. Quakers' skipper Steve Foster was once again on the bench along with former Port Vale forward, Kevin Gall who signed during the week.

Quakers started brightly with Nathan Porritt sending a shot off target however the home side eventually started to get on top. Kris Taylor was finding plenty of space and time down the left and was a significant outlet for a Port Vale side still looking for their first win of the season. His cross after seven minutes had Darlington on the back foot with Louis Dodds a whisker away from connecting with the ball.

Darlington's best chance of the opening period came a minute later at the other end. A free-kick from the left was sent into the Vale area where Dean Windass tried to head across goal and into the danger area from a difficult angle. The ball though was cleared for a throw in as the home side managed to get the ball out of the box.

By now however Vale were in the ascendency. A Marc Richards free-kick deflected off the Darlington wall on eleven minutes and a short time later Richards saw a shot saved by David Knight as the number of chances started to increase. Just after the quarter of an hour mark a Kriss Taylor cross was nodded wide by Richards.

A clearance up field should have seen Vale take the lead on eighteen minutes. The Darlington defence failed to cope and it allowed Richards to get on the end of it. His shot however was horribly scuffed and Darlington survived. Lee Thorpe and Windass combined to allow Jordan Cook to smash the ball wide at the other end as the visitors tried to reply. Richards though finally took a chance on twenty-nine minutes and put Vale ahead. Quakers had already been warned about Kris Taylor's crosses and it was he who sent over a low ball for Richards to slide home.

Darlington finished the first half brightly as they tried to seek a way back into contention but Port Vale were on top just after the break. Dodds' run towards goal a minute after the interval saw a shot deflected behind for a corner kick. Tommy Fraser then lifted a shot inches over the bar after cutting in from the right side of the penalty area.

A timely intervention from Matt Plummer on sixty-eight minutes to concede corner prevented Richards from doubling the advance for Vale. Quakers rallied in the final ten minutes of the game to enjoy their best spell of the match. Dowson was bought down by Gareth Owens in the Vale box to give Darlington a brilliant chance to equalise. Gary Smith though blazed wide of the mark.

Quakers tried their best to find the equalising goal but their best chance was already behind then. The hard working and energetic Jamie Chandler was one of the highlights for Darlington. He tried to pull the strings in the centre of the park but his efforts were not enough to help Quakers find their first league point of the season.