City slipped to an undeserved 2-0 defeat to 10-man Darlington on Saturday with the Quakers scoring at either end of the second half to secure the points.

Darlington, who had skipper Steve Foster sent off in the 14th minute after he lashed out at Adrian Patulea, were lucky to end the opening period with 10 men on the pitch after Richie Foran planted an foot on the back of Danny Hone's head.

Referee Scott Mathieson and his assistants failed to spot this incident though and in the end it proved vital as the former Carlisle United striker played in Liam Hatch for the opener 90 seconds after the restart before he secured the points in the final minute.

In between the two goals City created a number of chances but couldn't find that killer touch or killer ball into the box. Substitute Ben Wright had perhaps the best opportunity but he blazed over from the angle as he went for power rather than placement.

MATCH FACTS

LINCOLN CITY
1 Rob BURCH
2 Paul GREEN
4 Janos KOVACS
16 Danny HONE
5 Lee BEEVERS
8 Lee FRECKLINGTON
11 Scott KERR
19 Shane CLARKE
12 Dany N'GUESSAN
9 Kevin GALL
23 Adrian PATULEA

subs
15 Ben WRIGHT (for CLARKE 53)
3 Aaron BROWN (for GALL 66)
17 David GRAHAM (for PATULEA 80)
6 Frank SINCLAIR
13 Ayden DUFFY

DARLINGTON
22 Simon BROWN
2 Neil AUSTIN
4 Alan WHITE
5 Steve FOSTER
7 Jason KENNEDY
11 Rob PURDIE
12 Ryan VALENTINE
14 Ricky RAVENHILL
18 Franz BURGMEIER
29 Liam HATCH
31 Richie FORAN

subs
30 Tim RYAN (for BURGMEIER 20)
8 Gregg BLUNDELL (for HATCH 75)
23 Robin HULBERT (for RAVENHILL 90+2)
25 Curtis MAIN
1 Andy OAKES

GOALS: HATCH (47), FORAN (90)

SENDING OFF: FOSTER (14)

REFEREE: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
ASSISTANTS: Michael Denton & Andy Madley
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Martin Coy

ATTENDANCE: 3,534 (477 City supporters)