Darlington fell to their second successive 3-1 home defeat against fellow strugglers Torquay United. The visitors grabbed a two goal advantage before the half time whistle. Despite Quakers pulling a goal back through Curtis Main after the break the visitors secured their win with another goal five minutes from time.
Darlington called up Main and fellow youngster Dan Burn into his side with Stuart Giddings and Simon Madden playing as wing-backs. Darlington had a decent chance to take the lead on seven minutes when Main crossed to the far post for Tadhg Purcell to head back into the middle for Gareth Waite to hit a shot straight at the Torquay United keeper Scott Bevan had little problem with saving.
The next attack saw the visitors take the lead. Darlington failed to clear a Torquay United corner and Mark Ellis was quickest to react after seeing a header blocked to quickly shovel the ball home into the net. Ross Chisholm responded for Darlington by sending a low shot goalwards. Quakers had plenty of possession but were finding chances hard to come by. When they did come Bevan was equal to them. The Torquay United keeper did well to beat a Main cross away as Purcell lurked.
Torquay however extended their lead on the stroke of half time. Eunan O'Kane broke clear and fired a low shot that bounced beyond the despairing dive of Shane Redmond. Quakers saw a Main shot go wide after the half time whistle before Chisholm sent a shot well off target. Ten minutes into the second half though Darlington did raise hopes of supporters by pulling a goal back. He was on the end of Burns' cross to notch his third goal of the campaign.
It lifted Darlington Darlington and Main saw another shot deflected wide before Waite saw an effort saved by the Gulls keeper. Quakers' boss Steve Staunton made changes with a little over ten minutes left bringing on Mor Diop and Patrick Deane in place of Main and Waite. However it was to no avail as five minutes from time Torquay struck again when Chris Zebroski crossed low for Mustapha Carayol to score.
