DARLINGTON’S National League North play-off hopes disappeared when they were beaten by league leaders King’s Lynn at Blackwell Meadows.

They now need to win at Peterborough Sports this Saturday and hope seven results go in their favour if they are to clinch the last play-off place, but they haven’t won in nine matches, so that makes the first part of the equation unlikely.

Quakers matched Linnets until the visitors took the lead, and then it was a familiar story as far as Quakers are concerned.

They’re a far cry from the team that was top of the table at the start of the year, but since then they’ve lost key players such as Mark Beck and Danny Dodds, while Jack Lambert has been missing for two months because of injury.

Quakers have been unable to find adequate replacements, while other clubs with at least double or even triple their budget have been able to strengthen their squads.

They’re a far cry from the team that was top of the table at the start of the year, but since then they’ve lost key players such as Mark Beck and Dan Dodds, while Jack Lambert was missing for a period due to injury. Quakers have been unable to find adequate replacements, while other clubs with at least double or even triple their budget have been able to strengthen.

“I thought we weren’t too bad for 35 minutes,” said manager Alun Armstrong. “I thought our shape nullified them, and Tommy (Taylor) never really had a shot to deal with in our goal. We had better opportunities on the counter, and then it was a basic long throw and a basic corner for their goals - we weren’t picking our men up, as simple as that.

“It costs you no matter what level you play at, if you’re not doing the basics, it will cost you. That affected the lads massively. I asked them to play without fear, and I thought they did for a good spell, but then King’s Lynn’s first goal changed the game.

“For their third goal, we had three chances to clear the ball, and we didn’t. King’s Lynn didn’t have to work for their goals, and that’s the annoying thing. We’re making too many mistakes, as simple as that. It shouldn’t be happening with the experience we have in there.”

Despite such a great start to the season, Darlington are now 13th and could finish in the bottom half of the table.

Armstrong said: “We built a fantastic team in the first half of the season, but then unfortunately it got ripped to shreds. There’s not a lot you can do about it.”

The opening stages were well matched, with Gold Omotayo heading wide for King’s Lynn and Kaine Felix firing just wide for Quakers.

Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain put a right wing cross against the bar for the Linnets, and Lambert put a left-foot shot wide from 30 yards.

But then it all started to go wrong for Quakers on 33 minutes when a long throw came in from the right, Darlington keeper Taylor failed to punch it clear, and after Josh Barrett’s diving header was blocked, Ben Stephens was there to head the ball in.

Five minutes later and king’s Lynn were well in control when the Darlington defence cleared a right wing corner, only for the ball to come back into the six-yard box where Josh Coulson headed past Taylor.

And the points were on their way back to Norfolk soon after half-time when the ball was given away in midfield allowing Stephens to cross where Barrett and Omotayo had efforts blocked before Omotayo turned the ball past Taylor.

After already making two changes to cater for a change in formation, Armstrong was forced into a third when centre-half Jake Lawlor went off after a clash of heads. Niall Brookwell came on to replace him.

Quakers pulled a goal back after 70 minutes which injected some late life into the closing stages. Nathan Newall sent Jacob Hazel up the left, and when he got into the area, was brought down by Tommy Dixon-Hodge. Ben Liddle despatched the penalty.