Darlington comfortably won their second away game of the season in the midlands, to keep them firmly in the top three.

Quakers took the lead in the opening minutes with a shot by Stephen Thompson that Halesowen keeper Matthew Sargeant tipped over the bar, and Graeme Armstrong scored with a header from the corner by Anthony Bell that followed.

[caption id="attachment_13379" align="alignnone" width="300"] Graeme Armstrong heads the first goal at Halesowen[/caption]

Quakers went in search of a second, and they nearly got it through Thompson, who fired just over from an Ian Watson corner, and then Phil Turnbull was just off target.

Halesowen rallied briefly, but Darlington keeper Peter Jameson saved from Reece Hales, and then he saved at the feet of Greg Pearson.

At the other end, the dangerous Armstrong set up Nathan Cartman who had a shot blocked, and at the start of the second half Armstrong headed over from a Thompson cross.

Quakers scored a deserved second on the hour, when Chris Hunter was fouled, and from Ian Watson’s free kick, Kevin Burgess headed past the keeper, his third goal of the season. He is now the joint top scorer with Alan White.

[caption id="attachment_13381" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kevin Burgess' header is on its way into the net[/caption]

It was all over on 75 minutes when Thompson dispossessed a defender and hit a low shot past the keeper from 25 yards for his second goal in as many games.

Quakers have now won their last three matches, and are second in the table behind Blyth.

Pics by Tim Hickman