A deeply disappointing display led to Darlington being dumped out of the FA Cup by Gainsborough Trinity.
Lewis Butroid’s late goal at Blackwell Meadows saw Trinity stun Quakers, who came into the contest having conceded only once in seven matches.
But they conceded twice today, both goals due to awful defending, while their troubles in front of goal continue.
Cedric Main’s ongoing absence remains an issue, leaving Quakers blunt in the final third with too much burden on 20-year-old Jack Maskell.
Gainsborough are mid-table in the Northern Premier League, but the visitors are deservedly in the hat for the next round with Darlington again making an early exit from a competition they seldom do well in.
The match was slow to get going with little in the way of goalmouth action to excite the supporters.
Peter Beardsley, one of the finest forwards of his day, was in attendance, presumably invited by former Newcastle team-mate Steve Watson. Oh for some of his class and craft in front of goal instead of Darlington huffing and puffing their way through.
Early on after a Darlington set-piece, on-loan defender Andy Evans lashed a loose ball skywards from a good position, but that was as close to goal as either side came inside an uneventful first half an hour.
Without creating a great deal, much of the first half was played in the visitors’ half with Darlington finally making the breakthrough on 37 minutes after a fine passing move.
Teenager midfielder Alex Payne was among those involved in the move, with the ball eventually played into the danger area for Will Hatfield to fire home a loose ball after Jack Maskell’s shot was blocked.
However, Gainsborough swiftly hit back with Declan Howe equalising after a corner before half-time.
The striker, who had an unsuccessful loan to Quakers 18 months ago, evaded any attempt at marking inside Darlington’s penalty area to meet Butroid’s corner and head home.
While Quakers had largely been in control without being threatening in the first half, after the break, for all their toil they hardly looked like scoring.
Trinity goalkeeper Dylan Wharton had picked up an injury but Darlington did not capitalise, giving him little to do other than catching practice.
Soon after restart, Maskell teed up Matty Cornish but he blazed his effort over from 25 yards.
In desperate need of inspiration, after an hour blunt Darlington changed formation and sent on striker Andrew Nelson, who flicked a header over in one of his first involvements.
Payne swung in a cross from the right-wing, which narrowly evaded Jarrett Rivers, and Maskell headed over from a Kallum Griffiths cross.
Gainsborough were seemingly happy to play for the draw, as evidenced by striker Javalle Clark taking an eternity to leave the field when being substituted, earning a booking as a consequence.
Howe was also booked for a pathetic dive when attempting to win a penalty, though he would have the last laugh.
Gainsborough grabbed a dramatic winner with three minutes to go, pouncing on an error by Darlington defender Toby Lees.
With Quakers playing the ball out from the back, Lees was dispossessed inside his own half by Howe, Trinity attacked and Butroid blasted low past Peter Jameson.
There were five minutes of added time in which to find an equaliser, but Quakers spent too much of it endlessly passing the ball along the halfway line before eventually lofting high balls for Wharton to catch.
An easy afternoon for Wharton, a great one for Gainsborough, but a dreadful day for Darlington.
Referee: Alex Beckett
Attendance: 1,256
Darlington (3-4-2-1): Jameson; Evans (Griffiths 61), Lees, Barrow; Payne, Hatfield, Rivers, Leesley (Small 85); Cornish (Nelson 61), Maskell, McGowan. Subs not used: McGrath, Taylor, Sekete
Gainsborough Trinity (4-3-1-2): Wharton; Simpson, Lancaster, Cogill, Jackson; Helliwell, Butroid (Johnson 90), Conway; Preston (Braithwaite 80); Howe, Clarke (Dyer 73). Subs not used: Sykes, Stacey
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