Wycombe Wanderers 1 Darlington 0

Darlington came down to earth with a bump at Adams Park last night as their seven-game unbeaten league run ended.

Quakers never got to grips with Wycombe's pace and power in the first half and they got off lightly considering the chances the hosts created in the first 45 minutes, which were the worst under manager Dave Penney's command.

Quakers improved in the second half when their tempo quickened but they didn't create enough chances. However, there was an impressive league debut for David Stockdale, who deputised for Sam Russell, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a cracked fibula.

Penney was disappointed with the way his team started and said: "It took us until half time to get going. The manner in which we played in the first half was very disappointing and perhaps some players thought that they just had to turn up and win.

"We were much better in the second half and didn't give the ball away anywhere near as much. If we'd played for the whole 90 minutes like that we would have won."

The opposition's set piece routines as well as their pace caused first half problems.

Quakers nearly went behind in the first minute when Stockdale was forced to touch a left-foot shot by Stefan Oakes over the bar.

Wycombe went in front after two minutes when Kevin Betsy crossed to the far post where Anthony Grant set up Tommy Mooney.

His shot was blocked, but former Hartlepool striker Jermaine Easter turned the ball in from a couple of yards.

Another set piece by Wycombe after five minutes caused Darlington more problems when Mooney got away from his man to head over the top. It was the same again after 15 minutes when Mike Williamson was left completely unmarked to head a corner from Oakes over the top from eight yards.

Darlington nearly went two behind because of some instinctive play by Mooney. Neil Wainwright intercepted the ball just inside his own half but it ran loose for Mooney to hit the ball first time from 50 yards over Stockdale. Fortunately it dropped just a yard wide of the upright.

There was another headache for Darlington on the half hour when defender Mark Albrighton had to limp off and was replaced by Anthony Griffiths.

Just before the break Wycombe spurned another good opportunity when Will Antwi headed another in-swinging corner over the bar.

Darlington had much more purpose in the second half with Julian Joachim looking more prominent as he set up a chance for Alun Armstrong just inside the area, but the striker pulled his shot wide.

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty after 55 minutes when a Martin Smith cross from the left appeared to be handled by Oakes but referee Steve Bratt was in the perfect position to wave play on.

Quakers always look susceptible to long clearances and one from Young went straight upfield to substitute Ian Stonebridge who hit the side netting with a left foot shot.

Quakers had their best chance of an equaliser on 71 minutes when Smith broke down the left and pulled the ball back to the penalty spot where Armstrong had a low right foot shot parried by keeper Young, and then he recovered quickly to block the follow up from Clark Keltie.