NOT for the first time this season Darlington failed to make possession count as they succumbed to a disappointing defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Rochdale last night.

Former Newcastle supremo Sir John Hall watched from the stands alongside Quakers chairman George Reynolds as Clive Platt's first-half strike proved decisive on a disappointing evening.

And now Quakers must be looking over their shoulders as the strugglers at the bottom continue to pick up points.

Quakers have now won just once since triumphing at Hull on December 14, a run which has yielded only eight points from a possible 27.

Boss Mick Tait made one change from the side which held Rushden at the weekend with Stuart Whitehead coming in for Gary Pearson following a one-match ban.

Rochdale were without six, including ex-Middlesbrough striker and record signing Paul Connor, who arrived at the club from Stoke City for £150,000 in 2001.

Northern Ireland under-21 trio Gavin Melaugh, Patrick McCourt and Lee McEvilly were all on international duty.

Dale, who sent First Division Coventry crashing out of the FA Cup last month and fresh from a 2-1 win over Oxford at the weekend, included former Quakers midfielder Michael Oliver in their line-up.

After a fairly scrappy opening it was Quakers who produced the first chance after three minutes when Ryan Valentine cut inside from the left but his tame effort was easily dealt with by Matthew Gilks - another stand in, thanks to the absence of regular goalkeeper Neil Edwards - in the Rochdale goal.

Ashley Nicholls almost found a way through moments later but after linking up well with Ian Clark on the half-way line the referee called back play for a push on Dale player-manager Paul Simpson.

Nicholls then broke clear in the ninth minute and should have done better when he scuffed a shot straight at Gilks.

Quakers continued to toy with their opponents in and around the area and after a clever run from Clark, the former Hartlepool man threaded the ball through for Barry Conlon only to be flagged for offside.

An ironic cheer from the Tin Shed welcomed a rare effort on goal from the visitors when Oliver's sluggish attempt bobbled wide.

Despite all their possession Quakers found themselves a goal down in the 21st minute.

A threaded through ball from Simpson was met by Platt, who held off Whitehead before firing low into the bottom corner of the net.

The goal did little to deter Quakers who almost drew level six minutes later when Valentine sent a low drive inches wide.

Richard Hodgson almost gift-wrapped Dale a second when his tame back pass was almost intercepted by Platt who stole in ahead of Andy Collett but Whitehead was alert and cleared.

Quakers almost drew level in the 37th minute when skipper Craig Liddle headed over from Simon Betts' free-kick from the right.

And the home side continued where they left off for the start of the second-half with Nicholls and Conlon both causing early problems for the Dale defence.

Hodgson almost brought a spectacular equaliser in the 56th minute in the move of the match.

A quick succession of passes eventually found Hodgson on the edge of the area whose effort looked goal-bound only for a deflection to take it wide.

In the 68th minute the visitors almost made it two only to be denied by the heroics of Collett on his own goal line.

Highly-rated youngster Kevin Townson escaped the attentions of Betts down the left before crossing for Oliver, whose leaping header was somehow kept out by Collett.

With time running out Tait introduced Mark Sheeran for Neil Wainwright to form a three-pronged attack but it proved less than effective - despite last gasp efforts from Conlon and Liddle - as fellow strugglers Dale claimed a much-needed three points to condemn Quakers to their third defeat in four games.

Result: Darlington 0 Rochdale 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.