Manager Martin Gray had called on his players to remain focused in the wake of Wednesday’s win over Spennymoor Town, and there was no danger of Quakers being complacent during another strong display.

The sturdy defence again provided the platform on which victory was built, with Darlington making it seven clean sheets in a row.

It was 2-0 at the break, the recalled Terry Galbraith giving Quakers the lead midway through the half with a low strike from the corner of the penalty area.

It came after a Darlington throw on the right, taken by Gary Brown. He gave the ball to Adam Mitchell before Galbraith collected possession and fired hard and low into the net, keeper Andrew Farrimond getting hand to it, but only able to help the ball on its way into the inside of the post.

Galbraith was one of two changes, David Dowson also coming into the team with Gray resting Leon Scott and Graeme Armstrong.

Mossley may have come into the ninth in the table, but they failed to threaten.

Peter Jameson’s only save of note saw him tip wide a well-struck long-range strike by centre-midfielder Charlie Anderson, son of Viv, who was watching from the stand at Seel Park.

A rare occasion when the hosts broke into Quakers’ area came after Chris Hunter mistake after a poor first-time clearance gave away possession and led to Andy Keogh racing away. Hunter got back, and Keogh’s pass inside the penalty area to Anderson was cut out by left-back Ian Watson.

Hunter raised both hands by way of apology, and a defensive mishap at the other end led to Darlington’s second goal.

The second goal came about after Stephen Thompson had dinked the ball over the top of the defence, Dowson blasting across goal and at close-range centre-back Tom Dean could not avoid diverting the ball past his goalkeeper.

The own goal weighted the game heavily in Darlington’s favour, and within 120 seconds of the restart the outcome of the match was effectively sealed when Thompson scored a memorable individual strike.

With defenders in front of him, shooting at goal did not appear to be an option, but he managed to float the ball high over the keeper inside the far post from the corner of penalty area.

He’s not always been at his best this season, but that was a special strike worth of winning any game and was also the perfect manner in which to mark his 50th goal for the club.

The landmark goal came in his 100th game for the club in league and cup.

Points in the bag, Gray soon sent on Armstrong for Amar Purewal and Scott for Watson.

For Armstrong, it was an opportunity to go ahead of Purewal in the scoring charts as they are both currently on 11 in league and cup.

And the former Whitby striker was just inches away from connecting when he flung himself at a low Mitchell cross.

For a spell Darlington looked good for a fourth. Thompson, clearly boosted by his goal, let fly from 18 yards, stinging the keeper’s hands after turning when receiving a Galbraith throw-in.

And Dowson hit the bar after intercepting a weak back-pass and chipping the stranded goalkeeper.

In the closing stages Mossley made a go of it, sub Doug Carroll getting a shot away from inside the penalty area after a kind deflection aided the hosts’ attack, but it was comfortably saved by Jameson, who had been well-protected by Darlington’s defence.

To complete a fine day for Quakers, promotion rivals Salford City and Spennymoor Town both lost.

Darlington play in the Doodson Sports Cup on Wednesday against Whitby Town at Heritage Park, but Gray will select a team of teenagers, saving his senior players for next week’s trip to St Neots Town in the FA Trophy.

Goals: Galbraith (24, 0-1), Dean og (45, 0-2), Thompson (47, 0-3)

Mossley: Farrimond; Henson, Dean, Granite, McDonnell; Pratt, Cross, Davidson (Carroll 53), Anderson (Deveney 58), Marie (Brown 63); Keogh. Subs (not used): Purcell, Ruiz

Darlington: Jameson, Brown, White, Hunter, Watson (Scott 52); A Mitchell, Portas (D Mitchell 87), Galbraith, Thompson; Dowson, Purewal (Armstrong 51). Subs (not used): Cocks, Hatch