Full-Time: Warrington Town 1 Darlington 4

Darlington enjoyed their best performance of the season as they smashed four goals past league leaders Warrington Town.

Two goals apiece from David Dowson and Amar Purewal secured the points against a team that had not been beaten in 17 league matches.

But Quakers were comfortably the better side and their accomplished display well worthy of victory.

Darlington had gradually worked their way into the contest and took the lead after 20 minutes with David Dowson scoring the first of his first-half brace.

After Leon Scott won the ball in midfield, Stephen Thompson played a through-ball and Dowson found himself in a one-on-one position and although his shot lacked power, goalkeeper Josh Cook made a hash of the save.

The ball rolled under the keeper’s outstretched arm, giving Martin Gray’s men a lead which they doubled six minutes later and this time it was a lovely goal by Dowson.

With one manoeuvre he cut inside from the right with a beautiful touch to bring under control a Jonny Davis pass and then rifled the ball beyond Cook.

For the remainder of the half Darlington were untroubled by The Wire, whose closest chance came on two minutes before the break when Ashley Ruane rifled the ball across goal.

Quakers extended their lead with a great header by Amar Purewal on 60 minutes, powerfully forcing the ball past the keeper after meeting a cracking cross by Terry Galbraith.

The match-clinching goal was the cue for Quakers to make some changes, Dale Hopson on for Jonny Davis and Nathan Fisher for two-goal Dowson as Gray sought to close the game out.

Darlington looked comfortable and there was little fight from Warrington who, having remained unbeaten for so long, were not used to such a scoreline.

Their last league defeat came in the second weekend of the season, the first a week previously when Darlington had won 2-0.

And Darlington doubled that scoreline when Purewal added another on 81 minutes, making it 4-0 with another header after great work by Thompson and Fisher.

Warrington pulled one back in injury time when Ciaran Kilheney lashed home after finding space in the penalty area having received a long pass from midfield.

But the goal could not take the shine off a performance to be proud of.

Goals: Dowson (20, 0-1), Dowson (26, 0-2), Purewal (60, 0-3), Purewal (81, 0-4); Kilheney (90, 1-4)
Bookings: Cook (20, foul), C Robinson (75, foul)
Referee: Joe Hull
Attendance: 443
Warrington Town: Cook, Davies, Thompson, Meakin (Newby 80), McCarten, C Robinson, Ruane, Mannix, Kilheeney, Evans (Dogan 46), Gahgan (Bowen 46). Subs (not used): McKenna, Guest
Darlington: Bell; Pilatos, White, Hunter, Galbraith; Robinson; Scott, Davis (Hopson 68); Thompson (Weldon 82); Purewal, Dowson (Fisher 63). Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Edwards