DARLINGTON went out of the FA Cup to a controversial late penalty as they lost to Scarborough Athletic.

Quakers looked as if they were going to earn a replay thanks to Will Hatfield’s penalty equaliser until new defender Jack Hannah and goalkeeper David Robson got into a tangle, and when the ball ran loose, another defender, Toby Lees, was adjudged to have fouled Michael Coulson. Lewis Maloney stepped up and put Scarborough into the next round.

“When you’re young lads, you makes mistakes at times,” said manager Josh Gowling. “I thought Jack had an outstanding game, but it is at that moment when he should have put his foot around it and cleared it. But the ball bobbled up when he tried to pass it back. It was an initial back-pass, the keeper has saved it, and it should be a free-kick.

“Toby has then come across and he and their player came together – I didn’t think it was a foul. The ref said it wasn’t a back-pass by the way that the ball bobbled.

“But we put ourselves in that position, we should have cleared our lines. However, I thought we looked a lot better defensively, but two instances have cost us the game.”

Again, Quakers were made to regret some good quality chances which they failed to convert. They haven’t scored in open play yet under their new manager, but it’s not for the want of trying.

“The defeat was disappointing, but we should have been in at half time 2-0 up and looking to control the game,” said Gowling. “We are struggling in that area of the pitch. We’re getting into good areas, but we can’t put the ball in the net. We’re creating opportunities, which is very pleasing. I thought we were the better side, but they took their chances and we didn’t.”

Jassem Sukar missed a great chance with a header from six yards after seven minutes, then Kallum Griffiths fired a left-foot shot over the bar after he dispossessed his old team-mate Alex Purver.

Griffiths had another opportunity on the half-hour mark, when Hatfield found him on the overlap, and his right-foot shot was saved by Joe Cracknell.

Griffiths then set up Andrew Nelson inside the area, and the striker’s shot was deflected towards the top corner, but Cracknell saved at full stretch.

Scarborough took the lead against the run of play on 44 minutes, when Maloney crossed from the left for Frank Mulhern to flick the ball past Robson.

The chances continued to fall to Quakers. Jordan Mustoe crossed perfectly from the left to the far post where Griffiths headed over, then he had another header saved by Cracknell and put another one wide.

Quakers’ pressure was finally rewarded on 75 minutes when Scarborough defender Will Thornton clearly handled a deep cross from the right about ten yards out, and Hatfield smashed the penalty into the roof of the net.

Hatfield almost headed a second from a Griffiths cross, but Scarborough should have gone back in front at the other end when Ryan Qualter headed a corner over the bar from six yards.

With three minutes left, Darlington’s new signing, Hannah, who otherwise had a good steady debut in the heart of defence, miscued a back-pass to Robson, who in turn could only palm the ball out for Coulson to head wide from six yards.

However, the referee penalised Lees when he collided with him. and Maloney tucked away the penalty to the misery of the home fans.

It’s back to league duty now for Quakers, and a top -against-bottom clash in National League North at Tamworth on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Darlington goalkeeping coach, Jim Provett, resigned from his post at the end of the game.