Darlington dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season as they sank to defeat against Stockport County in a match billed as a must-win game between two teams fighting to stay up.

Before the game the sides occupied the two positions immediately above the drop zone, but Stockport pulled clear thanks to a deserved 1-0 win at The Northern Echo Arena.

Rob Ramshaw was sent off for conceding the penalty that the visitors scored from, but even with 11 men Quakers had been second best.

Manager Craig Liddle had no qualms with the penalty award and he admitted that his team could not hide behind excuses after a display poor in comparison to performances in recent weeks.

At home to Fleetwood and York as well as at Mansfield Quakers showed some positive signs, but after today’s defeat Liddle said: “There’s no excuses from me because we didn’t create many chances. I had no grumbles about the penalty.

“I expected to win today but we haven’t and as far as I’m concerned Stockport are out of it now, they are safe.

“We just have to regroup and continue to fight.”

Stockport had the bulk of the possession and the corner count told its own story: 1 for Quakers and eight for the Hatters.

During the first half Stockport hit the woodwork and had a goal ruled out by Joyce.

He adjudged striker Tom Elliott to have fouled Quakers keeper Jordan Pickford just before Danny Rowe rolled the ball home.

That came midway through the period that started with Elliot dragging a shot horribly wide and at the other end Darlington’s John McReady mishit a shot, saved by Ian Ormson, after Drewe Broughton knock-down.

Broughton was making his first start after joining yesterday from Arseley Town, the 33-year-old going straight into the forward line alongside Ryan Bowman.

Another change saw Neil Wainwright make his first start since returning after almost four years away, but he saw little of the ball before half time.

His first incident of note saw the winger skip past the challenges of Sean McConville and Jon Nolan, but the attack came to nothing, as did the bulk of Quakers’ forward play.

Elliot flicked a header wide from a Matty Mainwairing free-kick, conceded by Wainwright, and then came three successive Stockport corners that saw Pickford beaten after the final set-piece, but McConville’s neat chip hit the crossbar.

Before the break Jim Gannon’s side wasted another chance and again Elliot was on the end of it. The former Leeds player dallied on the ball after being played into the penalty area by Jon Nolan, and that hesitancy allowed Ramshaw to tackle.

Darlington’s best chances came in the 45th minute, firstly Ryan Bowman was slow to react to Broughton’s knock-down, and then McReady saw an 18-yard effort, after running at the Stockport defence, go narrowly wide.

Darlington started with the second period with more drive. An attack up the left saw Aaron Brown and Wainwright gain ground before working the ball over to the marauding Paul Arnison and his shot was held by keeper Ormson.

But the visitors were soon on the front foot and had Elliot enjoyed a better day they would have gone 1-0 up on 49 minutes. Rowe’s perfect corner was deal for Elliot, but the hapless forward miscued his header wide.

The rest of his team-mates were on much better form, with the midfield playing through Darlington who afforded Stockport far too much space for their short passing.

One such move saw Rowe released, though Pickford saved, however, Stockport eventually got their goal from the penalty spot.

Ramshaw tripped Jon Nolan and as it was his second bookable offence Joyce sent off the Darlington midfielder.

Rowe blasted home from the spot, leaving ten-man Darlington with it all to do in the remaining 30 minutes.

Yet it was Stockport who pressed for a second goal. Kris Taylor intercepted a cross to the near post when Elliot was waiting, and then Elliot failed to anticipate a low cross from the right by Halls when the goal there to aim at.

Clark Keltie was sent on for Wainwright and almost immediately was involved in an attack, exchanging passes with Kris Taylor, but again the attack fizzled out with Ormson not being tested.

Euan Holden played another ball across goal that Elliot again wasted before a brief hurrah from Darlington in the final stages which saw them win their first, and only, corner of the game, and it saw them handed their best scoring opportunity.

Brown’s flighted ball found Broughton five yards out, but the new striker header over and that meant game over.

The result meant Stockport recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since February 2009, but for Quakers it means they are left anxiously looking at the table and the remaining fixtures.

They have 11 games to go, starting with Luton at the Arena on March 13.

Goal: Danny L Rowe pen (59, 0-1)

Bookings: Keltie (70, foul), Bowman (75, foul); Halls (82, foul); Brown (90, foul)

Sending-off: Ramshaw (59, two bookable offences) Referee: Ross Joyce (Teesside)

Attendance: 2,202 (378 visiting fans)

Darlington (4-4-2): Pickford; Arnison, Taylor, Harrison, Brown; Wainwrght (Keltie 67), McReady, Ramshaw, Bridge-Wilkinson; Bowman, Broughton. Subs (not used): Nixon, Ferguson, Lambert

Stockport County (4-3-2-1): Ormson, Rose, Danny L Rowe (Connor 83), McConville (Whitehead 75), Nolan, Halls, Danny M Rowe (Holden 46), Mainwairing, Elliot, Pergianni, Turnbull. Subs (not used): Hirmer (gk), Cole