Darlington’s dreadful form continued into their final fixture, sinking to a fourth successive home defeat against Oxford City.
Results elsewhere meant Quakers could not have finished in the top seven – it’s a dismal run of run of one win in their last seven fixtures which has cost them a place in the play-offs.
Having occupied a top-seven position for the majority of the time since November, they blew their play-off chances in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Taking a paltry six points from a possible 24 in their final eight games at Blackwell Meadows simply is not good enough, that’s when the damage was done, while last week’s 1-1 draw at Telford was also costly.
Cedric Main missed a penalty at 1-0 up in the 75th minute before the team conceded an equaliser deep into added time.
That result meant a win was needed today - as well as results elsewhere going their way - and Darlington started by creating a flurry of chances but without scoring, which has become a theme in recent weeks.
Aidan Rutledge – in for the suspended Jack Maskell - was narrowly wide inside the second minute, Will McGowan saw an effort cleared off the line and Rutledge saw a back-heel blocked at close-range in strong start.
Recalled winger Ethan Fitzhugh was clobbered off the ball by right-back George Burrows, yet referee Shaun Taylor took no action other a free-kick in a sign of things to come from the official.
Tom Tweedy dragged a shot wide, which was the cue for giant goalkeeper Max Maxwell to claim he was injured, resulting in a break for his team-mates.
To nobody’s surprise, after a short break Maxwell was able to continue and moments later the goalkeeper made a save from Main with Tweedy quickest to the loose ball, but his shot was very poor, miskicking at close-range with the goal at his mercy.
It took until the 28th minute for Oxford to threaten at all, Darlington goalkeeper Rory Watson saving from Burrows when the right-back received Ashley Hemmings’ pass into the penalty area.
But suddenly Oxford had a two-goal lead. After referee Taylor ignored striker Matty Taylor clearly handling the ball on halfway, Oxford broke and Ewan Clark ventured into the area before tucking home.
And it was 2-0 when defender Canice Carroll won two crunching tackles, sending Oxford on the attack through a non-existent Darlington defence with Clark advancing and picking out Taylor to finish low past Watson.
The goals were deflating for Darlington, who at least wanted to end the season on a high after a poor run.
They were loud appeals for handball inside the Oxford penalty area early in the second half amid a goalmouth scramble, but the referee was not interested.
Frustration intensified and some Quakers fans began leaving on the hour when the third goal went in after more dismal defending.
It was such a simple goal: after header from halfway, Taylor had the freedom of Darlington’s half to run at goal before scoring his second goal of the game.
And it should’ve been 4-0, but Clark miscued horribly with all of the goal to aim at ten yards out as Quakers crumbled.
Oxford substitute Tom Scott then skipped past a couple of challenges before clipping the outside the post from 20 yards.
Darlington manager Steve Watson made some substitutions and switched to 4-4-2. Good footwork in the middle by sub Jonah Lowes saw him pass out wide to the lively Fitzhugh whose shot was parried by Maxwell.
Fitzhugh also delivered a cross that was inches ahead of Main, who was looking for a goal on his farewell appearance. He announced after the match that he is leaving Quakers this summer.
Darlington’s consolation goal was a close-range Toby Lees header after an 83rd minute corner, though Lees should not have been allowed to finish the game after a clumsy challenge on Clark went unpunished by the hapless referee.
Taylor indicated a minimum of nine minutes of added time, at the start of which he incorrectly awarded Darlington a penalty for handball, even though the ball struck Oxford’s Carroll in the face and he was unable to continue.
Darlington’s woeful conclusion to the season was summarised by Rutledge – without a goal in 17 appearances - blasting the penalty comically high over the bar, just as Main did last week at Telford. Both were awful efforts that would embarrass Sunday league players.
And Quakers were fortunate not to end the season by conceding yet again, Watson doing well to save from Alfie Potter when he burst through on goal.
A season that for a long time promised a play-off place instead ended in deep disappointment and a ninth-place position for Darlington. They end on 69 points, the same as 12 months ago, but two positions higher.
Darlington (3-5-2): Watson; Forbes, Lees, Barrow; Tweedy, Platt (Griffiths 69), McGowan (McLaughlin 73), Stanton (Lowes 57), Fitzhugh (Nelson 82); Rutledge, Main. Subs not used: Mason, Hedley, Myers-Smith
Oxford City (4-3-3): Metcalfe; Burrows (Roddy 69), Carroll (Johnson 90+4), Harper-Bailey, Humphries; Ashby, Ellis, Clark; Hemmings (Potter 65), Taylor (Westendorf 75), McEachran (Scott 65). Subs not used: Bearne, Parker
Share