Darlington’s four-game unbeaten run came to an end because of two goals in the first six minutes at the Jakemans Stadium – plus they had striker Jake Cassidy controversially sent off.

Alun Armstrong had switched to 3-5-2 formation for the game, recalling Danny Ellis for Jarrett Rivers, but Darlington were a goal down inside the first minute.

Paul Green won the ball in midfield, ran forward and slipped the ball through for Jake Wright to run into the area and lift over the advancing keeper Tommy Taylor.

Quakers soon nearly levelled when Cassidy broke away, but Boston goalkeeper Marcus Dewhurst pulled off an excellent save.

However, they were 2-0 down on six minutes when Scott Duxbury broke up the left and split the defence for Wright to beat Taylor with a shot across him into the bottom right corner.

And a bad start got even worse on 11 minutes when Cassidy was dismissed for a challenge on Green in midfield, with Darlington players protesting that the challenge was more 50-50 in nature.

And they were furious a few minutes later when Boston defender Tom Platt was only shown a yellow for a late challenge on Ben Hedley.

Despite being a man down, Quakers almost got back into the game just on half time when Lambert found Luke Charman on the left, and the striker dribbled his way into the box but Marcus Dewhurst saved.

Wright was denied a hat-trick at the start of the second by a good save from Taylor, but Quakers never gave up and nearly pulled a goal back when Charman made a good run and set up Lambert, whose effort was superbly saved by Dewhurst.

Jake Lawlor had a point blank effort saved by Dewhurst as Quakers finished strongly.