Darlington concede spectacular own goal in their embarrassing 8-0 defeat at Chorley

Darlington concede a spectacular own goal in their embarrassing 8-0 National League North defeat at Chorley on Tuesday night.

The result meant that the Quakers suffered their heaviest loss since an the 8-0 defeat against Watford in the League Cup back in 1987.

Darlington, who have never won at Victory Park as a fan-owned club, collapsed after just six minutes, when they went a goal and a man down.

Chorley netted three times before half time, and kept up the pressure after the break, scoring five more as Quakers failed to handle them.

It was the own goal that really summed up their night, Moke, who was level with his own 18 yard line almost on the touchline, attempted to hit a crossfield pass, and yet somehow mishit it high over Taylor into his own net, making it 7-0 on 82 minutes.

Goals:
Ellis (4 mins, 1-0)
Henley (23 mins, 2-0)
Shenton (27 mins, 3-0)
Johnson (53 mins, 4-0)
Whitehouse (65 mins, 5-0, 73 mins, 6-0)
Moke (82 mins og 7-0)
Whitehurst (90+3 mins, 8-0)

Chorley: Urwin, Moore, Henley, Ellis, Smith, Nolan, Calveley, Shenton, Sampson, Whitehouse, Johnson (sub Popoola 58)

Subs: Wilson, Hazlehurst, Ubaezuono, Moyo, Popoola

Darlington: Taylor, Rowe, Lawlor (sub Lees 15), Burton, Hedley, Hatfield, Hindley, Rivers (sub Simms 45+1 , Ngandu,  Salkeld, Nelson

Subs: Platt, Lees, Moke, Simms, Griffiths

Red card: Nelson

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Darlo boss Josh Gowling said, as per The Northern Echo: “There’s no excuses, it was poor,” said the Quakers boss, whose side are eight points from safety in the National League North relegation zone. “As a group, with myself, we’ve got to apologise to the fans because they’ve come to see that. I’ve never been involved in a game like that as a manager or a player.

“It wasn’t great, was it. Let’s be honest. There were little patches where we were good in possession, but we’ve lost 8-0. I can’t say there was anything good about that performance because the result takes care of itself. It says what it is. It’s poor, but we’ve got to keep pushing on.

“We had a good result at Farsley, then went to Peterborough and lost,” continued Gowling. “We had a good result on Saturday, then this. There’s something there that we need to work on to make sure we get more consistency.

“We were talking about consistency before the game. We had a great result on Saturday, but you have to have consistency and back that up, and we were nowhere near it. We looked tired.

“I’ve said along that it’s a work in progress, and we’re going to have bumps along the way,” said Gowling. “Obviously, that’s a big bump, but we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and go again.

“This group will, we’ll make sure we do that. We’ll work hard. We’ve got a session on Thursday and then we go to Scunny away on Saturday, so we’re going to have to put some work in.”

This is how fans reacted after Darlington concede a spectacular own goal in their embarrassing 8-0 defeat at Chorley…

@AltonCatphil: Time to go management team we’ve become the laughing stock of north east football

@ThfcChristian: Unlucky lads could of gone either way

@tboynton961: If the board don’t act now then you deserve every bit of criticism you’re gonna get. Wow just wow 8-0

@lukepeo1867: Akwasi on next flight away

@mickywint: That’s fucking embarrassing

@thomas_cloke: Embarrassing fucking embarrassing yous lot. Stay in Chorley don’t come back

@Dell_Boy02: Could you at least keep Gowling until Hereford turn up at your gaff??? 🐮🐮

@GarryDarlington: I really feel for the travelling fans.

@Jamie_wood03: Enjoy relegation 👋👋

@EllisRochester: Dont you dare allow a single one of them on that coach home you utter spinless pricks

@lottie03hall: Disgraceful from Moke , he was our captain and to not even go over to the fans at full time is a joke .

@f1_kenny: Get the travelling fans their refund. Completely embarrassing

@Walshaw9:
1) Why is he laughing?
2) We’ve nailed the consistency part. Consistently shite.
3) “Good in possession in spells”. When was this?

@darlofan_dfc: Words fail me

@Rennie__23: Thank god it’s over 👀

@Alan_S_Lawson: Sack the lot!

@Olli3King_: disgraceful, 41 conceded in 18 games

@wxbster_: Akwasi is seething right now

@PeteGill703: Total humiliation 🤦🏻‍♂️… heading to the Northern Premier League

@darlo_simon: Longest ever journey home

@Ryan03Edwards: Gowling is well and truly at the wheel

@H4rdon: Felt for those who came tonight, Watching some of your players just walk off without coming over was poor. Fair play to your keeper for doing so, Didnt have much of a chance!

@ARandoLukeBlair: If the Board dont see this as a reason to get Gowling out, I have no clue what IS

@Stef1885: Gowling hardly ripped up any trees at Hereford so this isn’t really a surprise, poor appointment and your now paying the prices, hope you stay up!

@Dandfcwalker97: Fucking embarrassing, sack the lot of them