Darlington's couldn't have asked for a worse possible start to 2008 thanks in equal measure to an under-par performance and a laughable display from the match officials present at Spotland. Referee Rob Lewis was not entirely to blame for Quakers' defeat but he did play a crucial part in ensuring that Dave Penney's men were 3-0 down at half time.

Twice he awarded dubious penalties, one for each side, before sending Alan White off. Rochdale started the encounter brightly forcing three corners in the opening three minutes but their efforts were somewhat overshadowed by Lewis. Darlington were missing Steve Foster due to illness and it showed. The pressure gradually started to build and on twenty-three minutes Joe Thompson jumped highest to head home.

Quakers though had every right to be angry as striker Glenn Murray was allowed back onto the field of play after treatment during the Dale attack. The goal handed the home side the advantage and they never looked back with former Darlington winger Adam Rundle shooting wide. Seven minutes from half time Dale doubled their advantage with a good attacking move. The ball was finally crossed in from the left wing where Murray placed home.

Former Darlington keeper Sam Russell denied Ricky Ravenhill a goal by saving his header from a corner kick when it seemed the ball was heading for the back of the net. Russell though acrobatically tipped over the crossbar in a save seen several times in the past during his days between the sticks at the Darlington Arena.

Again it proved vital because Rochdale scored their third during injury time. On this occasion however, it owed nothing to poor defending and everything to a woeful decision by Lewis. Ian Miller, making a rare appearance, produced an excellent sliding tackle on Adam Le Fondre but Lewis decided to award a penalty which Le Fondre successfully took to effectively seal the points.

At 2-0 down Quakers may well have had a chance but the poor decision to give Rochdale a penalty effectively ended Darlington's interest in the second half before it had even began. To their credit the visitors improved after the break and a Clark Keltie penalty on fifty-four minutes sparked a little hope. Again however the decision was questionable. Simon Ramsden was adjudged to have brought down White, but the contact appeared minimal.

Darlington were boosted by the goal but were unable to capitalise and turn proceedings to their advantage. First Julian Joachim miss-controlled the ball when a Russell clearance fell to him thirty yards out and White headed narrowly wide from a Lee Ridley free-kick but clear cut chances were rare. Any hopes of a comeback were finally dashed when Lewis complimented a trio of errors with a fourth one. White picked up a harsh second yellow card for fouling Marry with his first coming for dissent.

It capped a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Darlington and one to forget not only by Darlington but by the officials, who capped a poor show by signalling for number fifteen to be replaced by number fifteen during the second half.

Rochdale: Russell, Ramsden, Stanton, McArdle, Kennedy, Thompson (Higginbotham 57), Doolan, Jones, Rundle, Le Fondre (McEvilly 75), Murray. Subs: Spencer, Crooks, Holness, Higginbotham, McEvilly.

Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Miller, Ridley (Martin Smith 86), Joachim (Abbott 72), Ravenhill, Keltie, Purdie, Wright, Blundell (Wiseman 77). Subs: Brackstone, Liversidge, Wiseman, Martin Smith, Abbott.

Rochdale bookings: Rundle, McArdle.

Darlington bookings: White, Austin, Ravenhill, Wright, White (sent off, second bookable 74).

Goals: Thompson 22nd min (0-1), Murray 37th min (0-2), Le Fondre 45th min (pen)(0-3), Keltie 54th min (pen)(1-3).