IN two games this season, Darlington hadn't lost to Carlisle.

But on Saturday it happened, Bristol Rovers midfielder Wayne Carlisle scored with a superb free kick to consign Quakers to their third successive away defeat.

And Carlisle's 74th minute strike overshadowed another great goal by Quakers' teenage midfielder Clark Keltie, who is surely one of the finds of the season.

While Quakers performed better than on their last two trips to Southend and Macclesfield, they still didn't take enough of their chances, especially in the second half when they had more of the game.

Maybe it was a lack of killer instinct at times which cost Mick Tait's side, because fifth bottom Rovers were suffering from the relegation jitters.

On several occasions in the first half, the home defence made a hash of their clearances and conceded needless corners, but Quakers just couldn't capitalise.

Disappointed Tait, who has seen his side win just once away from home in four months, said: "I thought we dominated the game and should have had something out of it.

"I can't knock the players for the way they approached the game. There was plenty of commitment, and they tried to win every ball.

"Even when we were 1-0 down, I thought we would win because of the chances were creating. Everybody played well, but I'm disappointed we've ended the away season with three defeats. Games at places like Bristol Rovers should be games we expect to win."

Tait has complained about referees on the odd occasion this season, and on the performance of match referee Tony Bates, he said: "I'll let the fans and the press to comment on him.

"I thought we had two penalty appeals turned down. I thought Tom Newey was tripped for the first one, but the referee said no, so why didn't he book him?

"And he booked Tom for a foul when he clearly played the ball first."

Quakers had the first real chance of the game when the hard working Ashley Nicholls, another player who can be happy with his contribution this season, ran down the left and crossed for Jimmy Corbett to volley over.

But nervous Rovers responded when a Stuart Whitehead clearance rebounded off Keltie into the path of Andy Rammell, who volleyed wide from the edge of the box.

The near miss gave Rovers some much needed confidence, and they took the lead after 22 minutes. Carlisle beat Matt Clarke down the right, and crossed into the middle where Rammell chested the ball down and volleyed into the bottom corner of the net past Andy Collett.

But with Newey finding space on the left flank, Quakers always looked dangerous, and Quakers had strong penalty appeals turned down when he appeared to be tripped by Rovers centre half Adam Barrett, but referee Tony Bates waved his protests away.

And the referee turned another, more convincing, appeal a few minutes later when Rovers full back Sonny Parker handled a Newey cross.

The referee didn't endear himself any further when he booked Keltie for bringing down Carlisle, even though the midfielder appeared to play the ball first - Quakers' first foul of the match after 30 minutes.

There was another good chance for Quakers on 39 minutes when Jimmy Corbett's pace took him away from the defence, and he set up Ashley Nicholls, whose shot was blocked and Barry Conlon drove the rebound just wide.

Rovers nearly sneaked another when Rob Quinn found Rammell racing clear, but the former Wycombe striker fired wide from ten yards.

However, Quakers had more possession than the home side in the second half, and threatened on several occasions, before they deservedly equalised.

Keeper Scott Howie could only tamely punch, instead of catching, a Ryan Valentine cross from the right and the ball fell a couple of yards outside the box where Keltie charged in and fired the ball into the top corner of the net for his third goal of the season, all of them top quality.

But just as Quakers looked as if they were capable of going on and winning, Rovers snatched the points and with it secured their Third Division status.

Liddle was pulled up for tripping Lee Hodges on the edge of the area, and Carlisle curled the ball right footed over the wall into the top left hand corner of the net, with Collett beaten.

Quakers should have got a point out of the game, and sub Danny Mellanby, on for Nicholls, missed a great chance after 83 minutes when Conlon nodded down Neil Wainwright's cross for Corbett to nod goalwards, but Mellanby swivelled only six yards out and put the ball over the top.

Result: Bristol ROvers 2 Darlington 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.