Darlington's victory on Saturday came courtesy of their first ever penalty at the Williamson Motors Stadium, but Wycombe Wanderers left adamant they should have had a spot-kick of the own.

In their 33rd match at the ground Quakers were finally awarded a penalty after Clyde Wijnhard was shoved in the back by Mike Williamson on 35 minutes, but minutes later Joe Kendrick appeared to have returned the favour until the referee signalled a goal-kick and this sparked outrage in the visitors' dug-out.

It was easy to see why they were so incensed: near the byline around six yards from goal Kendrick took away the legs of Nathan Tyson from behind and a spot-kick seemed a formality.

But not so said referee Paul Robinson who instead gave Quakers a goal-kick, a decision that led to the visitors surrounding the whistle blower on the pitch and off it the assorted coaching staff and subs shared their feelings with fourth official, Russell Tiffin.

Particularly infuriated was assistant boss Pete Cawley who ended up being sent to the stands following an exchange of views with Tiffin.

Wycombe boss Tony Adams remained relatively calm but post match did make his views clear, slamming Robinson for his apparent oversight.

"Referees can win and lose you games and that's what happened to us," blasted Adams who is now without a win in eight league matches.

"With their decisions they can dictate the outcome of a game and it was they who decided the result of this match.

"I think we should have had a penalty and Darlington shouldn't have had one. The ref should either have given two penalties or none at all."

After seeing red, literally, Cawley spent the majority of the game watching from the directors box having trudged upstairs - still in his football boots, apparently without much care for the luxury carpets in the South Stand - and Adams said: "I think he was frustrated but you can't afford to lose your discipline - I'll be telling him off.

"I can understand his frustration, I really can.

"Not giving us a penalty has cost us a football match and we don't need that kind of luck at the moment.

"It's getting to the point where we talk about match officials after every game.

"It is something I do no like doing but I must say I feel very frustrated."

Just prior to Wycombe's penalty appeals Wijnhard had put Quakers ahead but shortly afterwards Darlington had strong claims for a second penalty; this time after a clumsy challenge sent Alun Armstrong to the deck.

Not that Quakers complained too much - after waiting over a year for a penalty on home ground they weren't going to whinge about not getting two in one afternoon.

Wijnhard's spot-kick was actually Darlington's second in four days at the WMS as they were also awarded one last week in the final minute of a reserve game against York City.

However, midfielder Michael Coghlan missed and Quakers had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

* Ex-Darlington striker Barry Conlon had no penalty problems as one of his two goals came from the spot during Barnsley's 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.

Meanwhile, former Quakers midfielder Richard Hodgson was named man of the match on his Cambridge United debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Lincoln.

* Tommy Taylor, Darlington's manager for a year until October 2002, has been appointed boss of Kings's Lynn in the Southern League Premier.