TOWN would have struggled to win this one even with Jonathan Stead playing as an extra man!

Too many of Peter Jackson's side had off days in the wind and rain and you can't win football matches when you keep giving away the ball.

This was a grisly performance, in fact, to end their wonderful run and, while there was no lack of effort and they lost to a penalty and a fluke goal, Town got exactly what they deserved.

Despite a very bright start with the gale at their backs, Town were soon squeezed for space as hungry Darlington took advantage of their mistakes to establish a hold they rarely looked like losing.

The harder Town tried, the worse their passing became while Darlington - who had three men in the divisional team of the week following their previous win against Rochdale - showed much greater control and looked a far better side than their lowly League position suggests.

Ex-Halifax loanee Neil Wainwright, in fact, was a real problem to Town, who looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back, totally out of sorts in midfield and blunt up front.

It was Wainwright's excellent run from midfield - spotted by no-one except Sunderland loan signing Neil Teggart, who fed him the pass - which earned Darlington the penalty from which Ian Clark put them ahead in the 20th minute.

Skipper Efe Sodje was first to cover a storming run into the box from acres of space, but Wainwright cleverly turned back into the defender's path and crashed to the ground right in front of referee Frazer Stretton.

There was little Sodje could do about it and some felt it was harsh, but Town would have been aggrieved not to get a spot kick if the circumstances had been reversed.

They were aggrieved, in fact, 11 minutes from time when Andy Holdsworth appeared to be blocked inside the box, but Mr Stretton ruled it was shoulder to shoulder and the 675 travelling fans could heave a huge sigh of relief.

By then, Darlington were two up thanks to a bizarre goal from their captain, Neil Maddison.

Nathan Clarke had cleared a long throw from Chris Hughes to near the edge of the box when Maddison, aiming to knock the ball back into the danger area, skied his effort into the wind.

As it dropped from the gruesome sky, Phil Senior badly mistimed his leap to touch the ball over the bar and it dropped straight over his head and into the net.

That incident alone summed up Town's fortunes while Stead was making a scoring debut for Blackburn in the top flight.

It was a rare costly mistake from the keeper, who has been magnificent in Town's recent winning sequence, but you got the impression it might not be his day when he spilled an early cross from Mark Convery and had to be rescued by Sodje near the line.

Strangely jittery at the back after four clean sheets in six matches, Town could count themselves lucky to be only one down at the break.

Wainwright teed up Convery for a sitter on 35 minutes and, with Town's defence in complete disarray, he somehow fired wide from the six-yard line when it was far easier to score.

Senior then had to save smartly from Teggart and race from his box to clear from Hughes as Town lived on their nerves, while Wainwright drilled a shot inches wide on the stroke of half time after picking up on a Danny Schofield mistake.

Town, for all their gritty determination, were comfortably second best and it was no surprise when, after some harsh half time words, that Jackson sent on David Mirfin and Tony Carss quite soon in the second period.

Carss produced some quality which had been missing and, with Anthony Lloyd and Andy Holdsworth pushing forward well, there was at least some pressure around Michael Price's goal.

Nat Brown, who worked particularly hard after firing wide a decent chance from Jon Newby's 10th-minute cross, had a couple of half chances in that spell and attracted loud appeals for a penalty when he clashed with the keeper when bursting through the middle.

It was not to be and many in Town's third highest crowd of the season were heading for home when Senior made late stops from Barry Conlon and Teggart.

Manager of the Month Jackson made the point that with Stead gone and Booth injured, Town had only 11 goals in their starting line-up.

After this, he will be working doubly hard on a strike signing and possibly considering other changes, especially with Carss looking the part in his first outing since November when replacing Lee Fowler, who has been carrying a hernia injury.

RATINGS: Phil Senior Not his day. Spilled an early Convery cross and allowed Maddison's swirling punt to drop in for the second goal Rating: 4/10

Andy Holdsworth Had a storming last 15 minutes and some thought he should have been awarded a penalty. Battling show Rating: 5/10

Anthony Lloyd Plucky display in wet and windy conditions, he was always willing to push forward and have a go for goal Rating: 6/10

Steve Yates Like his colleagues, did not find it easy at the back against Teggart and Conlon, with strong raids from Wainwright Rating: 4/10

Efe Sodje Little he could do to avoid Wainwright for the penalty. Tried his best as skipper to get the team going on an off day Rating: 4/10

Nathan Clarke Grafted hard and tried to push forward at times, but not a display the defence will remember fondly Rating: 4/10

Lee Fowler Never really got to grips as Darlington crowded Town in all areas of the pitch. Well below par by his usual standards Rating: 4/10

Jon Worthington Had one or two half chances to shoot, but failed to produce his normal driving influence in the centre Rating: 4/10

Danny Schofield Even his usually superb close control deserted him, as did his shooting accuracy from around the penalty box Rating: 4/10

Nat Brown Hammered Town's best chance wide on only 10 minutes but turned in a battling show up front and deserved a break Rating: 5/10

Jon Newby Very bright start to the game with a couple of dangerous breaks but became increasingly isolated and frustrated Rating: 4/10

Darlington: Price, Liddle, Clarke, Hutchinson, Hughes, Maddison, Teggart (Russell 90), Wainwright, Clark, Conlon, Convery (Valentine 72).

Subs not used: Pearson, McGurk, Norton.

Subs used: Town: Carss for Fowler 57, Mirfin for Newby 57. Darlington: Valentine for Convery 72, Russell for Teggart 90.

Su bs not used: Town: Gray, Edwards, Holland. Darlington: Pearson, McGurk, Norton.

Scorers: Darlington: Clark (pen) 20, Maddison 54.

Referee: Frazer Stretton (Nottingham).

Bookings: Darlington: Hughes.

Shots on target: Town 4, Darlington 6.

Corners: Town 5, Darlington 2.

Caught offside: Town 1, Darlington 2.

Free-kicks awarded: Town 12, Darlington 9.

Attendance: 11,014 (Away: 675).