DARLINGTON slumped to a humiliating defeat at bottom-of-the-table Bath City today who enjoyed their first win of the season.

They came into the match having lost ten of their 13 games and had scored only five goals in the process, but they added two to their total against a poor Quakers who put in a limp display.

As in the equally embarrassing defeat to Southport ten days ago, Mark Cooper's side were out-fought and out-played by one of the division's smaller clubs.

Bath had yet to keep a clean sheet until today, but Darlington did not give the home goalkeeper, Glyn Garner, a save to make.

However, for all that they lacked creativity, they came close to scoring inside the first minute with what would have been a freak goal.

From just inside the Bath half Paul Arnison blasted the ball head towards goal after only 25 seconds, but to the relief of Garner, who was caught off his line, it sailed narrowly wide.

Arnison's afternoon came to an early end due to injury. He went down in a heap after stretching to intercept a raking ball over the top and had to be stretchered from the field.

Arnison's departure saw midfielder Chris Atkinson come on as a substitute with Michael Brough, who was in for the suspended Jamie Chandler, switching to right-back and that meant Darlington's defence took on an unfamiliar look with Greg Taylor covering for Ian Miller and Kris Taylor in for the injured Aaron Brown.

The reshuffle seemed to adversely affect Quakers as the hosts gradually took command while Cooper's side struggled to make an impact.

The manager again used the 4-3-3 formation that was deployed in last week's 2-0 win over Newport, but the front three of Liam Hatch, James Walshaw and Tadhg Purcell were peripheral figures.

In fact, one of Walshaw's few noteworthy moments saw him clash in mid-air with right-back Andy Gallinagh, an incident that outraged the Bath management who felt the striker had used an elbow.

Quakers keeper Ole Soderberg had to tip Marc Canham's free-kick over the bar after a Graeme Lee foul that earned a booking. It was his fifth caution of the season and means he will be suspended for Tuesday's trip to Stockport County.

That was not Cooper's concern today though, as his team struggled to keep hold of the ball during a lacklustre half that ended with another chance for Bath.

Just before the break Soderberg flapped at Marc Canham's corner and the ball dropped for Charlie Clough, but he flicked the ball over the crossbar. It was a let-off for Soderberg who was not convincing when dealing with crosses on his debut last Saturday.

Cooper made no changes at the break, but soon after the restart he took action by making a double-substitution, sending on Ryan Bowman and John Campbell. They replaced Walshaw and Purcell, but the move made little difference to Darlington who lacked purpose or any threat in the opponents' half.

It was a different at story at the other end where Lee Phillips tried an overhead kick, saved by Soderberg, and then the Bath forward saw a close-range shot blocked by Greg Taylor. Then Kris Taylor got a foot in just as the Bath man lined up an effort from the edge of the penalty area.

A hopeful Hatch shot on the turn from 35 yards that sailed wide was about as close to goal as a listless Darlington came, but Bath continued to threaten.

Marc Canham's flighted free-kick from the right was met by Clough who headed over the bar. Then came two quick-fire Bath goals that stunned Quakers.

Marc Canham's corner was not cleared and Sean Canham was on hand to blast into and empty net. Then a harmless ball up the right channel found Phillips who turned easily past Greg Taylor and, despite the close attention of two Darlington defenders, was able to fire past Soderberg.

Given Bath's poor record before today it was a stunning turn of events, but they deserved to be ahead given that it was they who had done more to force the tempo.

Darlington quickly needed a goal to give them some hope, but a Hatch header landed on the roof of the net after meeting a Marc Bridge-Wilkinson free-kick. Chris Atkinson lashed a volley wide from 20 yards and a Campbell a looping effort from the side of the penalty area was headed off the line by Bath captain Gethin Jones.

That was enough to ensure that Darlington fell to a defeat that few would have predicted, but it means Quakers have now won only one of their last eight matches and lie 16th.

Having overcome Newport last week, a win that was Quakers' first in seven matches, the pressure on Cooper was relieved somewhat.

But focus on his position as manager will again be at the forefront of many supporters' minds.

Goal: S Canham (69, 1-0), Phillips (70, 2-0)

Bookings: S Canham (5, foul); Lee (18, foul); Bridge-Wilkinson (90, foul)

Referee: John Hopkins (Wickford)

Attendance: 1,156

Bath City (4-4-2): Garner; Gallinagh, Clough, Jones, Stonehouse; Connolly, M Canham, Burnell (Rollo 84), Hogg; S Canham (Russell 82), Phillips (Cook 90). Subs (not used): Murray, Watkins

Darlington (4-3-3): Soderberg; Arnison (Atkinson 19), Lee, G Taylor, K Taylor; Brough, McReady, Bridge-Wilkinson; Walshaw (Campbell 52), Hatch, Purcell (Bowman 52). Subs (not used): Russell (gk), Rundle