DARLINGTON’S dreadful record in the FA Cup continues after being humbled today by a team two divisions below them.

Having failed to win more than one game per season in the competition since 2010, they were hoping for run in the competition to raise revenue as well as profile.

But for the second season in a row fell at the first hurdle, this time to a Lancaster City team who are mid-table in the Northern League First Division North.

Quakers lost 2-1 at the Giant Axe, a game in which Gary Brown was sent off after only 15 minutes and Terry Galbraith’s gaffe led to the first goal.

Brown saw red after pulling back Jordan Connerton, a player Quakers are familiar with. In February 2015 he scored a hat-trick inside 15 minutes for Kendal Town against Darlington.

He was attempting to intercept Galbraith’s header back to keeper Paul Woolston when he tangled with Brown.

But ten minutes after Brown’s dismissal Lancaster were also down to ten when Jacob Davis was sent off for a very similar offence.

Ten versus ten made for an even contest, neither side impressing, Darlington sending on Chris Hunter and switching formation 4-3-2 having began with 4-3-3 and playing long-ball up to Mark Beck, who had Liam Hardy and Nathan Cartman alongside him.

This was due to the length of the grass which Lancaster had allowed to grow, leaving, in Martin Gray’s mind, no option but to play directly.

In midfield was debutant Josh Falkingham, who enjoyed a fine game, making interceptions, getting Quakers moving forward and dictating play for his new team-mates.

But neither side could score before the break, the breakthrough coming shortly after the second half began when Jacob Gregory stole the ball off Galbraith and rifled the ball past Woolston.

Quakers fell behind at a similar time on Wednesday when they beat Bradford Park Avenue 2-1, so at this point were hoping for a repeat performance.

They threw bodies forward, playing three at the back and leaving Hunter exposed occasionally. Although it was a move which risked conceding another goa, it had to be done, there was nothing to lose.

Connerton, however, made the most of linesman failing to spot that the striker was clearly in an offside position on 76 minutes. He rounded Woolston to make it 2-0 and effectively seal the tie.

Amar Purewal gave Darlington hope when he pulled one back in the closing stages, powering home a header after meeting Tom Portas whipped in cross.

But it was not enough to prevent another early Cup exit for Quakers, who have now won only one of their last eight games in the competition.

Goals: Gregory (48, 1-0), Connerton (76, 2-0); Purewal (80, 2-1)

Bookings: Beck (17, foul)

Sending-offs: Brown (15, professional foul); Davis (25, professional foul)

Referee: R Wooton

Attendance: 580

Lancaster City (4-4-2): Hale; Hudson (Henry 83), Davis, Mercer, Clark; Gregory, Crolla (McKenna 70), Wills, Sumner; Connerton, Mayers (Westwood 58). Subs (not used): Anderson, Raybould, Russell

Darlington (4-3-3): Woolston; Marrs (Purewal 66), Brown, Galbraith, Watson (Thompson 54); Portas, Falkingham, L Scott; Cartman, Beck, Hardy (Hunter 20). Subs (not used): Robinson (gk), H Scott, Nowakowski, Mitchell