DARLINGTON played better than they did against Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday - but they were still beaten by a goal in each half at the Flamingoland Stadium.

They had more fire about them, but they weren’t dangerous enough in front of goal, and now they start the second half of the season in danger of being cast adrift at second bottom in the National League North table. They have won just four games all season, and need to win at least three to have a chance of overtaking the fifth bottom club.

Manager Josh Gowling said: “I didn’t think there was much in the game, but they were more clinical than what we were. We got the ball into good areas, but it kept coming back. We’ve got to be more clinical when we’re on top, we didn’t take that moment.”

Quakers looked pretty determined from the first whistle, and nearly scored in the fourth minute with a powerful right-foot shot by Jonny Ngandu that Scarborough keeper Ryan Whitley fumbled against the post, and a defender cleared before Andrew Nelson could latch on to the loose ball.

However, they had a setback on seven minutes when the ball was crossed to the far post, where Finlay Barnes’ return into the middle was handled by Darlington left-back Ben Hedley.

The referee pointed to the spot, from where Aidan Rutledge, who was a prolific scorer in the Northern League at Birtley last season, scored from the spot.

Quakers were denied by the woodwork again on 11 minutes, when Nelson, on his return to the side, turned quickly on the corner of the six-yard box and struck a right-foot shot that Whitley fingertipped against the crossbar.

Both sides were evenly matched until Quakers nearly levelled five minutes before half-time, when Kallum Griffiths’ free-kick from the right was half-cleared by the home defence for Cardo Siddik, who was making his debut after signing on Friday, to fire over the top from 15 yards.

Scarborough had a better chance at the other end when Quakers lost the ball inside their own half, and the ball was played through for Alex Wiles to run into the box, but Darlington keeper Tommy Taylor saved well at his feet.

Quakers put sub Akwasi Asante on up front alongside Nelson, and his first real action was a shot that went straight at Whitley.

After Quakers had two penalty shouts turned down, they nearly went further behind when Harry Green fired a free-kick just wide from 30 yards out.

Quakers pushed men forward, but left themselves open on the break. The impressive Rutledge set up Green on the edge of the box but he skied his effort well over, then former Darlington player Alex Purver was also off target.

Quakers, who are the division’s lowest scorers, missed chances to level. Ngandu turned on the edge of the box and had a left-foot shot saved by Whitley, who also saved at full stretch from Hedley.

But Quakers' commitment to an equaliser backfired on 76 minutes, when they lost possession in the Scarborough half and the ball was played through a huge gap for Green to run through and beat Taylor.

The result was a foregone conclusion, although sub Bradley Williams had a late effort saved.