Good and bad fortune is said to even itself out over the course of a season. If that really is the case then Darlington can look forward to the luckiest three points they will earn this decade after somehow losing a game they dominated.

The 3-1 scoreline was as bizarre as it was unjust - the hosts only had four shots on target all game - and the three points was a gift to Boston who will be thankful to have escaped Saturday's robbery without punishment.

Darlington, particularly in the first half, were a class above. Manager David Hodgson described his team as having "battered" Boston and he was right. However, it remains a mystery what exactly Quakers had done to deserve such an unfair result, and with it the end of their mini-winning run.

The referee, Fred Graham played his part in Darlington's downfall - the fact both sets of fans were unhappy with his performance says it all. "A Mickey Mouse watch for a Mickey Mouse performance," said Hodgson after Graham played twice as much first half injury time as had been signalled, during which Boston scored a third goal. "It is very difficult to beat 12 men," he added.

Graham's award of Boston's penalty was also met with bemused looks all-round York Street, and perhaps the Essex official realised his mistake because he went on to gift Darlington a dubious penalty of their own - to even things up, maybe?

Boston's three-goal half time lead was a scoreline that had supporters and players scratching their heads in disbelief. A 1-0 Boston lead would have been unfair, 2-0 a shock, but 3-0 created an incredible, surreal situation at half-time when Hodgson was satisfied with his team's performance despite being three goals behind.

He said: "I said to the players at the break 'forget the scoreline, just look at your performance and what you have done. If we can get an early goal we would be back in the game - if they can score three in one half then so can we'.

"I was not angry, how could I be? I was disappointed with a few refereeing decisions but I could not have asked for anymore.

"If you look at their level of football compared to ours, we were far superior - but when you have officials who are well below par, they level the difference out.

"I am very disappointed with the standard of match officials. That goes for decisions he gave for both sides.

"Without question the referee gave them a headstart by giving them a penalty which I thought was disgraceful."

But the referee could not have been blamed for the result; Darlington had almost twice as many efforts at goal than their hosts - 17 to ten - but their shooting accuracy wasn't great, they fired off target more than professionals are expected to, while the defence allowed Boston too much space.

But despite those frailties and a lack of consistency, provided there are no more injuries to what is a strong first XI, Quakers remain on target for the play-offs.

Besides, the competition is weak so there is nothing to fear, certainly not Boston - a club so lifeless that over the PA system it plays a tape of a crowd cheering when they score.

Their main threat was 14-goal striker Andy Kirk, the subject of a bid from Leicester last week, but by the time he opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 20th minute, Quakers had been close to taking the lead through Brian Close, Ryan Valentine and Alun Armstrong.

Craig Hignett also went close, working himself into a good position 16 yards from goal, but just as he pulled the trigger a tremendous sliding challenge by Dean West denied him.

Kirk's twice taken penalty, disallowed first time around for his team-mates encroaching into the penalty area, was given by Graham after Curtis Fleming was judged to have pushed Daryl Clare.

Despite the goal Darlington continued to create chances however, it became 2-0 when Clare caught Quakers napping on the left, he received a precise through-ball from midfield and in a one-on-one with Sam Russell made no mistake.

The third came in the third minute of injury time, despite the fourth official having signalled there were would only be two, when Darlington's defence backed off, allowing Danny Thomas to fire past Russell with the help of a deflection.

After dominating the first 45 minutes, what changes is a manager supposed to make? What can he say to his team? With good reason, Hodgson told his players that earning at least a point was not going to be impossible - the difference in class between Boston and Darlington really was that great.

Quakers were had been far superior in the first half, playing some excellent one and two-touch passing in the final third, but in the second 45 minutes Darlington found it tough to get behind Boston as they defended deeply.

Quakers did find the net in the 57th minute through a Hignett penalty, after Armstrong was pushed by West, and although Darlington enjoyed the majority of possession it was difficult to get behind Boston who restricted Quakers to long shots - Close going closest but his drive was tipped over the bar.

Kirk almost made it 4-1 but he hit the post. That scoreline really would have been unfair on Darlington, but most frustrating for Quakers is that the attendance for Boxing Day's game at home to Rochdale is bound to be affected by Saturday's result - no matter how well Quakers played.

After the investments made on and off the pitch at the WMS, and the progress being made in the league, Darlington deserve a bigger turnout than the one expected next weekend.

Result: Boston United 3 Darlington 1.

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