AFTER enduring one of the toughest weeks in their recent history the question among Darlington fans was – can things get any worse?

Defeat at Exeter provided an emphatic 'yes' on an afternoon when Alan White was sent off and both Pawel Abbott and Steve Foster picked up ankle injuries. Abbott looks certain be out for a couple of weeks.

Dave Penney faces a huge challenge to raise morale ahead of Tuesday's home clash with Notts County.

Consecutive defeats and their ten point deduction now places Quakers' promotion challenge in serious jeopardy.

But Penney's side were hardly helped by some dreadful refereeing from Stuart Atwell; the man who gained notoriety last year when he awarded Reading a 'phantom' goal against Watford.

The official had another very poor afternoon.

When he awarded Exeter a harsh-looking penalty for handball, that Matthew Gill converted to break the deadlock, it typified the bad luck that's haunted Darlington of late. And his sending off of White, for a challenge on the halfway line with the home side 2-0 ahead, served Darlington another body blow.

After losing Steve Foster to an ankle injury before kick off they battled gamely all afternoon and deserved at least a point for their efforts. But despite a couple of brilliant saves by Andy Oakes, Exeter doubled their lead seven minutes from time when substitute Craig McAllister headed home Dean Moxey's cross from six yards into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal.

It was a scoreline that flattered the home side who were very fortunate not to have a player sent off themselves after defender Troy Archibald-Henville kicked Danny Carlton in the head with the Quakers striker bearing down on goal. The Exeter right back, who had earlier picked up a yellow card for his body-check on Carl Tremarco, should have received his marching orders. But again Mr Atwell saw things differently.

White's sending off was the final kick in the teeth and will rob Penney of his services for what is now a vital clash on Tuesday night.

The game had been a pretty even contest in the first half when Tremarco and Abbott both had great chances to put Quakers ahead. It was Tremarco's last game for Quakers and his snap shot from 12 yards brought a smart save from Paul Jones.

Exeter's classy left winger Moxey was at the heart of the home side's neat attacking play. And he almost set up an opening goal when his clever ball forward was controlled by Steve Basham who fired wide.

But Darlington refused to give up and a Danny Carlton volley from 20 yards just before the interval skimmed wide of right hand post.

Tim Ryan picked up a yellow card after only seven minutes but he was otherwise excellent and quelled the threat of former Sunderland and Ipswich striker Marcus Stewart.

But Abbott's injury robbed Darlington of their key attacking threat with substitute Curtis Main offering only sporadic bursts forward in the second half. As the game progressed, Quakers were pegged-back for long periods as the home side scented victory.

Just under 200 fans had travelled to show admirable support for their team. Penney's side will be hoping to see a huge turnout at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena on Tuesday as his side look for an upturn in their flagging fortunes.