Darlington 2 Hyde United 3

SCOTT SPENCER scored a hat-trick, but it was Darlington who did most of the damage to themselves as they contributed to their own downfall with a 3-2 defeat to Hyde United.

For the second Saturday in succession Hyde left Heritage Park with a win, and this time individual errors cost Quakers dear.

Darlington had made a good start, but they were 2-0 behind after 19 minutes. The 13th minute opener came from Hyde’s first attack after a weak Peter Jameson kick. Stephen Thompson was out-jumped in the centre of the pitch, leading to a Hyde attack up the left and from the resulting pass striker Spencer had the freedom of the penalty area to tap home.

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Quakers’ Tom Portas had a goal ruled out for offside, Nathan Cartman having impeded the goalkeeper said the officials, a decision which Darlington strongly disagreed with.

Manager Martin Gray confronted referee Craig Dean at half-time about the incident, which took on further significance when it soon became 2-0.

Darlington could not clear the ball from their own penalty area, the ball pinging around the 18-yard box, leading to Spencer scoring at close-range.

Quakers were without the rested Graeme Armstrong, with Alan White again selected up front, but the veteran defender did not have same impact he has had as a makeshift forward of late.

Darlington upped their game in the second period, however, and after a couple of substitutions and change in formation to 4-3-3 two goals around the hour mark made it 2-2.

Cartman converted at the near post following Adam Mitchell’s low right-wing cross, and then sub David Dowson lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

At this point only one team looked like winning, and they almost added a third goal in controversial circumstances.

They kept possession at a throw after Hyde had kicked the ball out so one of their players could get treatment after pretending he was injured. The shot from the resulting attack saw Dowson lift the ball over the bar, possibly just as well, as Hyde were incensed at Quakers’ lack of sportsmanship.

Darlington failed to make the most of momentum, however, leading to Hyde creating a few chances late on.

Darlington’s defence was caught flatfooted, not for the first time, as Ayrton Bevins got a yard away from Kevin Burgess, but his shot was fired across goal and wide of the far post.

But it was to prove a warning Darlington did not heed as in injury time, Quakers’ frailties were summed up when the usual reliable Portas gave ball away in midfield to Bevins, he went on the attack and played in Spencer to complete his hat-trick from 18 yards.

Having also bagged a brace last week, that made it five goals against Quakers for Spencer in two games, while Darlington have now conceded 15 goals in ten league and FA Cup matches.

Darlington assistant manager Brian Atkinson, speaking in the absence of Martin Gray who chose not to comment for the second week running, admitted: “It was another disappointing performance and we cannot keep giving ourselves a mountain to climb like we did.

“We got back into the game, then a sucker punch cost us a point.

“We’re making individual errors, what can we do about that? The one thing we will do is that we will all stick together.”

The only saving grace for Quakers is that the other teams at the top of the table also lost, but they will hope for a vast improvement at Ilkeston on Monday evening.

Darlington: Jameson, Mitchell, Burgess, Hunter, Watson, Thompson (Youhill 81), Portas, Turnbull, Bell (Galbraith 56), White (Dowson 56), Cartman. Subs not used: Provett, Scott

Hyde United: Ollerenshaw, Burke, Jones, Killock, Neville, Pearson, Jago (Fitton 76), Harris, Gray (Ellison 82), Spencer, Davies (Bevins 61). Subs not used: Boyle, Muscat