DARLINGTON were dumped out of the FA Cup at their first hurdle for the fourth year in succession, beaten at Blackwell Meadows by Bradford (Park Avenue).

During the previous three seasons, in what has become an unofficial annual match in the competition for Darlington, they have lost to Hyde United, Lancaster City, South Shields, but were hopeful of progressing this time.

They wanted to string together a couple of lucrative wins in a competition that still has the capacity to excite fans, while the prize money for a win in the second qualifying round is £9,000.

The cheque, however, will be going to Bradford.

Their winner was scored by Danny Lowe midway through the first half, intercepting a pass intended for Luke Trotman and firing past Jonny Maddison from outside the penalty area.

Darlington, again without the injured Joe Wheatley having failed a fitness test, were second best throughout the first half against opposition who are fourth in the National League North, but had lost their two previous games.

At half-time Tommy Wright, who had recalled the fit-again Terry Galbraith in place of Jonny Burn, sent on Dave Syers for Alex Henshall.

Syers has had thigh issue recently so was considered only fit enough to be a substitute, and early in the second half he had a shot saved and then was on target with a header saved by debutant 18-year-old goalkeeper Jack Atkinson.

Simon Ainge, on his first start after returning to the team and playing up front alongside Reece Styche, headed wide as Quakers improved in the second period.

Styche twice fired over in stoppage time as Quakers looked for a leveller, but there was to be no equaliser and, yet again, no FA Cup run.

Losing at an early stage in the competition should come as no surprise to supporters well used to seeing their club fail in the FA Cup. But defeat is still hard to take for a set of fans who year after year are denied the excitement that a cup run would bring.

After the game Styche was involved in a brief altercation with a spectator, though it was followed by a handshake.

Darlington: Maddison, Trotman, Hughes, Galbraith, O'Hanlon, Thompson, Elliott, Nicholson (Saunders 79), Henshall (Syers 46), Styche, Ainge. Subs: Glover, Burn, Lycett, Alderson, Stansfield