You know the season is well under way when you play a team for the second time. The new season was just two games old when County last faced Darlo, on yet another desperately unlucky evening for the Hatters.

Talking of disappointments, despite Tuesday's defeat, Turner kept faith with almost the same side that were so unlucky not to get something out of the Bristol game. The only change's being enforced, Keith Briggs return meant that he replaced the desperatetly unlucky Mickael Wolski. Michael Malcolm came in for the suspended Jermaine Easter.

In fairness, though, the options available to the manager are limited. On the bench he included talented YTS defender James Tunnicliffe and two non-contract players in the shape of Dean Crowe and newly signed Cruz Vieria.

Darlington included former Man City winger Carlos Logan in their line up.

Both sides created a number of openings in the first exchanges of this nervous looking affair. Neither side did, however, do enough to test the keeper. The best effort came for County on the 15th minute when Briggs volleyed the ball, only to see his shot go wide of the post.

Seconds later and a header across goal fell kindly to Tes Bramble, but the big man could not get good direction on the ball and in the end Bossu was able to deal with it.

A diving header again from Tes Bramble was the result of  a good run and pinpoint cross by Singh was the one highlight of a drab first 30 minutes.

It was from a Darlo free-kick on the edge of the area, that County went on to produce another worthy attempt. The ball was hooked clear and it fell kindly to Tes Bramble, who found Singh advancing down the left wing. Unfortunately for County Harpal couldn't get the desired touch and an otherwise good move broke down on the edge of the area. 

Bramble was again to come close when he hooked on to a deep Matt Hamshaw cross from the right wing. This time, though, Tes was at fault as he hooked the ball over the bar.

There were cries for a penalty on the 33rd minute when Danny Boshell was brought down by Bertrand Bossu, but the referee waved away the cries, as the Frenchman had won the ball.

It was Darlington, though, that got the break through when Carlos Logan was given the space and time to run at the County defence. Unmarked, he dispatched the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal from the right hand side of the area.

County went in search of an equaliser, but despite their attempts they failed to penetrate the away goal. The best attempt of a rather a bad bunch came when Malcolm found Briggs in space and the midfield man got a shot in on goal.

Briggs was almost the villain seconds later when he tried to clear the ball and it hit the back of a Darlo midfielder. Briggs redeemed himself however, when he beat the on running Darlington forwards to play the ball safely to Spencer.

Half time was welcomed by echoes of discontent from the fantastic County support. A sign, I am sure the players will be all to aware of.

Second Half

There was a cry for back pass, when a Darlington player played the ball back to Bertrand Bossu following good work by Michael Malcolm. There was to be no reward, however, as County plugged away.

Darlington started to test County, as the home side started to lose a grip of the game, first of all a header from Ndumbu-Nsungu went just wide and then a Simon Johnson effort was blocked following a mistake by James Spencer.

Protests for two penalties in as many minutes fell on death ears, as County upped the tempo following a period of Darlington pressure. First there were cries of handball following a Danny Boshell free kick and then Tes was downed in the area.

A desperately unlucky Keith Briggs saw his wonderful volley hit the inside post as The Hatter's started to get a grip on the game.

Matt Hamshaw was the next to go close as he hooked on to a ball on the right wing, he hit the ball on the first attempt and it went just wide. Seconds later and Tes Bramble went close with a long range attempt.

County were queuing up now to have a go, and Singh was next to go close when he nearly scored direct from a corner. Bossu did well to clear the danger.

Darlo had their chances as well, Simon Johnson created the best chance when he ran into the area and pulled off a shot that went wide.

The Quakers went 2-0 up following a County free kick. Dean Crowe lost possession of the ball in the Darlo box nd the visitors worked the ball quickly to Ndumbu-Nsungu who finished with some ease.

The usually reliable Matthew Hamshaw squandered the opportunity to get the Hatters back into the game when he squandered a free kick on the edge of the area.

It got worse for County as Darlington went three up when Akpo Sodje headed past the exposed James Spencer.

This'll make for a very depressing Saturday night for all connected with the club, but will be a little more enjoyable for those travelling up the M1.

County: Spencer, Greenwood, Williams, Clare, Hamshaw, Boshell, Briggs, Robinson, Singh (Crowe 79), Bramble, Malcolm.

Subs: Ikeme, Tunnicliffe, Cruz Vieria, Allen,

Darlington: Bossu, Valentine, Kendrick, Hutchinson, Dickman (Webster 89), Johnson, Clarke, Keltie, Ndumbu-Nsungu, Logan (Wainwright 54), Stamp (Sodje 67)

Subs: Close, Appleby,

Referee: A.Penn