RARELY this season has the fans' expectations been so high at the Reynolds Arena.

Football supporters are a demanding bunch, especially when their team sets such high standards.

In November, few would imagine a struggling Darlington side would even muster up a couple of wins, let alone the kind of form - six victories from their last nine - which the best in Division Three would crave for.

But since David Hodgson's third coming four months ago, the Quakers boss has instilled the kind of winning mentality which took the club to the brink of promotion during his last spell in charge five years ago.

Like the proverbial lambs to the slaughter, struggling Cambridge - with three straight defeats prior to Saturday - arrived, seemingly there for the taking.

And while Hodgson warned against complacency in his pre-match notes, not even he could have anticipated what was to unfold before his very own eyes at the weekend.

For the first half hour on Saturday everything was going according to plan. Early domination was rewarded with a 26th minute opener from Mark Convery.

But that was as good as it got for Quakers, as Hartlepool striker Jermaine Easter - on loan at the Abbey Stadium - inspired an astonishing turnaround for the visitors.

The out of favour Pools man - who last week extended his stay for another month - grabbed a brace to savour, either side of seeing Quakers keeper Michael Price gift Cambridge two goals. The visitors were 4-1 up before Clark Keltie and Matt Clarke reduced the deficit to ensure a tense finale.

"That was an absolute shambles today," admitted Hodgson, whose side remain nine points clear of the relegation zone following Macclesfield's 4-0 defeat at Huddersfield.

"Who'd have thought we'd come up against Cambridge at home on the back of what we've done recently and concede four goals? The only plus point was that we managed to pull a couple of goals back.

"We got caught out with some quick breaks through our own mistakes at the other end.

"We were very poor in the first half and I thought it couldn't carry on for the second 45 minutes but it did.

"I think if we'd have stayed out all night we were never going to win the game. It just wasn't meant to be.

"If we'd have won today we could have moved that one step closer to safety. The lads have been excellent over the last couple of month's so lets put today down to an off day."

And Hodgson can ill-afford another off day at Belle Vue on Saturday, against top-of-the-table Rovers.

The Quakers boss will hope to have on-loan Sunderland striker Neil Teggart back in the side after the Irishman was ruled out with a foot injury on Saturday.

And after seeing his defence exposed on more than one occasion, Hodgson could also hand a recall to Joey Hutchinson.

It took the visitors just seven minutes to exploit a hesitant Quakers defence when Shane Tudor's header was brilliantly tipped on to the bar by Price.

Likewise, at the other end, Quakers were able to find holes in the Us back-line and only a goal-line clearance from Adam Tann denied Craig Russell his second goal for the club.

But Darlington weren't to be denied much longer. Craig Liddle forced a corner and the ball eventually fell in to the path of Convery, who lashed home a thunderous effort from the edge of the box.

Quakers' lead was short-lived as Easter - who only scored two goals during his time at Hartlepool - levelled on the half-hour. With the ball deep in Cambridge's half, Neil Wainwright's pass was cut out by Luke Guttridge.

The highly-rated midfielder's brilliantly executed through ball set Easter on his way. He used his pace to lose Chris Hughes before placing the ball under Price.

Quakers had strong appeals for a penalty five minutes later when Barry Conlon was hauled down by Duncan in the box, but referee Scott Mathieson was less than convinced.

With half-time approaching the Us took the lead through Danny Webb, who pounced after Price spilled Guttridge's free-kick from 35 yards out.

The Quakers keeper redeemed himself early in the second half when he saved bravely at the feet of Easter. Conlon had another strong call for a penalty just after the hour after Duncan appeared to nudge the Irishman in the box, but for the second time Mathieson waved play on.

And, after Conlon and Russell both failed to hit the target with efforts, Easter made it three in the 65th minute.

With the Quakers defence left flat-footed, Easter - whose every touch was greeted with boos - latched on to Guttridge's through ball and fired home.

It was Guttridge who compounded a miserable afternoon for Price when his corner was pushed over the line by the Quakers keeper.

Substitute Keltie reduced the arrears with four minutes remaining, before Clarke gave Quakers hope when he headed home a minute later.

But despite a late rally which saw Price go up for a last gasp free-kick, Cambridge held firm to claim all three points.