Two late goals in the previous two games saw Quakers without a win in three games. Having dropped seven points since the start of the season to last-minute strikes Darlington needed to get back on track however Dave Penney's side answered their critics with a superb second half display at Victoria Road. What was looking like a solid enough away performance exploded into life as the visitors dominated the second forty-five minutes.

Despite the disappointment of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Rochdale, Penney named the same starting eleven with Andy Oakes in goal, Clark Keltie preferred in midfield to Ricky Ravenhill and Tommy Wright partnering Gregg Blundell up front. Following their success in recent games Daggers' boss John Still also named an unchanged side. Dagenham enjoyed the better of the possession during the opening half but the Darlington backline defended in typically resolute fashion making it difficult for their hosts.

Darlington threatened briefly in the opening moments before Neil Wainwright linked up well down the left with Wright, but he was unable to cross. At the opposite end Chris Moore found space down the left, but his tame cross was gathered with ease by Oakes. The visitors presented Dagenham with an excellent chance to attack on six minutes thanks to a sloppy pass. Shane Huke spread the ball wide to Sam Saunders who saw his shot blocked for a corner. The hosts kept the pressure on with another two corner kicks but were unable to break through.

Dagenham enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Danny Foster working a nice throw-in which nearly caught Darlington out, before two minutes later crossing wildly from the right wing. The visitors though won their first corner when a poor throw by keeper Tony Roberts gifted possession to Julian Joachim. His cross was headed behind, but despite a defensive mix-up leading to a flag kick, the Daggers defended the danger well.

The home side looked to launch the ball forward at every opportunity pinning Darlington back but they coped with the danger well. Oakes relieved some of the pressure by catching Saunders' in swinging cross from the left. This allowed Quakers to break, but Joachim's cross from the right was collected before Micky Cummins could get to the ball. The midfielder, who enjoyed one of his best games of the season, then saw a low shot blocked. The visitors enjoyed their best attacking spell of the first half on thirty minutes when Blundell went close. Keltie's ball in from the left was nodded on by Joachim, allowing Blundell to steer the ball past Roberts. Anwar Uddin however cleared the ball before it could reach the line.

Dagenham appeared to be heading for the break with a flourish. Huke looked to weave his way through the Quaker's defence but the away side cleared their lines. Whilst the Daggers had seen more of the ball during the first period they found themselves behind as Quakers nudged in front during injury time. Keltie's free kick was crossed in from the right and it fell for skipper Stephen Foster who lashed the ball home to give Darlington the lead.

Having finished the first period with a goal, Foster could have started the second with another. He pushed forward after starting a move but Blundell's cross wasn't accurate enough. It started a ten minute period where the defender could have doubled his tally for the day as Darlington took total control of the game. On fifty minutes Joachim's excellent cross found Blundell at the back post, but his goal-bound header was forced behind for a corner. Quakers again went close from the flag kick as Foster let fly but his stinging effort was somehow cleared off the line.

Wainwright was the next to have a go, but his shot was blocked. Darlington kept the pressure on and close to the hour mark Wright headed over as Penney's side increased their stranglehold on the match. Having endured twenty minutes of pressure since the restart the hosts were fortunate to only be one goal behind. After defending for much of the first half the visitors should have been well in control. As it was, Oakes had to show good hands at the opposite end to deny Saunders. Any nerves over a one goal lead were eased as Joachim crossed for Blundell who had all the time in the world to smash past Roberts.

The second goal essentially wrapped up the points for the visitors but to the delight of the away support they pushed further ahead in search of a third. On seventy-two minutes Wainwright hunted a loose ball down on the left flank and pulled it back into the danger area, however the linesman ruled that the ball had gone out of play. The second half belonged to Darlington and with time fast running out Cummins set up Wright to put Darlington 3-0 up. Daggers' keeper Roberts was caught in two minds but Wright wasn't as he finished with ease - the third goal capping a wonderful performance in the second half which ended Dagenham's unbeaten home run.

Dag & Red: Roberts, Danny Foster, Uddin, Smith, Griffiths, Saunders, Rainford (Sloma 74), Huke, Southam, Moore (Green 77), Strevens. Subs: Thompson, Taylor, Boardman, Sloma, Green.

Darlington: Oakes, Purdie, White, Foster, Ryan, Joachim, Keltie (Ravenhill 89), Cummins, Wainwright, Blundell, Wright. Subs: Brooks-Meade, Miller, Wiseman, Barrua, Ravanhill.

Dag & Red bookings: Moore.

Darlington bookings: Keltie, Ravenhill.

Goals: Foster 45th min (1-0), Blundell 67th min (2-0), Wright 83rd min (3-0).

Report by Kevin Luff.