Miserable run continues

Their opponents had not won in nine games and badly needed a victory to help them in the fight against relegation - and it duly arrived thanks to a woeful last half an hour from Quakers.

Dave Penney's side had been coasting at 2-0 thanks to goals from Ricky Ravenhill before the break and a Shaun Reay goal just after half-time.

But seconds after Neil Wainwright declined the opportunity to shoot when well-positioned, Dagenham pulled a goal back through Sam Sloma and within two minutes had equalised thanks to a penalty.

Dave Rainford scored from the spot on 65 minutes after Sam Saunders had been fouled by Ben Parker who was sent off an is now suspended for at least one game, though Penney later admitted that Leeds are considering recalling him to bolster their own play-off bid.

With Darlington's play-off place assured, Dagenham's need was greater than Quakers' but the hosts crumbled, seemingly allowing the visitors to walk through a weak home defence.

An inevitable third goal came in the 74th minute when Paul Benson's shot from a narrow angle rolled past David Stockdale after taking a deflection off Clark Keltie.

To make matters worse on what turned out to be a miserable day for Darlington, of which there have been many during a run of only one win in 11 games, striker Pawel Abbott limped off with a recurrence of his hamstring strain.

After five weeks out he had been handed a start and it was intended to give him no more than an hour, but he limped off after only 15 minutes.

Ravenhill scored his third of the season shortly afterwards with a header from a Wainwright cross to gave Quakers the lead in what was a scrappy and lacklusture first half.

Five minutes into the second period Reay, Abbott's replacement, played a one-two with Tommy Wright before dinking the ball over Dagenham keeper Tony Roberts, though it may have taken a deflection off defender Mark Arber.

At 2-0 Quakers were in the comfort zone with the home fans creating the kind of atmosphere Penney has been asking for recently.

After such a poor run of late, perhaps some of the belief had been restored. Penney even felt able to give striker Wright a rest by replacing him with midfielder Micky Cummins.

But the move soon backfired as it left Darlington with little threat in the final third, while slack defending contributed to Dagenham's first two goals. Once Parker was dismissed Quakers lost their shape entirely.

Roberts produced a flying save to deny Steve Foster who headed at goal from a Clark Keltie free-kick in the dying seconds, but Dagenham deserved their win which means they are now safe from relegation.

Minutes after the final whistle confirmation of Mansfield's defeat at home to Rotherham followed and sparked joyous scenes among the small band of visiting fans and players who remained on the pitch awaiting news from Field Mill.

Having shown great character to recover from a two-goal deficit, the Daggers were sportingly applauded off the field by the Darlington supporters who had stayed behind to watch an unusual penalty shoot-out.

With preparation for the play-offs in mind, ten outfield Darlington players, plus goalkeepers Stockdale and Przemyslaw Kazimierczak, staged a mock shoot-out with Penney hoping to create a match situation.

But following what had been such a disappointing result, many of the disillusioned home fans had gone home immediately after the final whistle to contemplate how Darlington are going to turn their fortunes around in the play-offs.

Darlington (4-4-2): Stockdale; Wiseman, White, Foster, Parker; Wainwright, Keltie, Ravenhill, Nelthorpe (Miller 71); Wright (Cummins 55), Abbott (Reay 19). Subs (not used): Kazimierczak, Kennedy

*Fulham-bound goalkeeper David Stockdale was named Darlington's Player of the Year before Saturday's game while Lewis Hardman collected the Young Player of the Year accolade.

Captain Steve Foster won the Away Player of the Year honour, while he will also be in the PFA Team of the Year which is revealed in full on Sunday evening.