Darlington were sucked deeper into the relegation mire after Boston United hauled themselves off the foot of the Division Three table with a 1-0 home win over Quakers on Wednesday night.

Following hard on the heels of last Saturday's disappointing 2-2 draw with Exeter City - who were themselves propping up the rest at the time - the result has left Mick Tait's side only four points above the drop zone.

They are one of eight teams involved in a desperate struggle to stay out of the two relegation places and Quakers' inability to pick up more than one point against two of those sides does not bode well.

Mark Greaves headed home a corner to put Boston ahead after only five minutes and Darlington could not find a way back.

The defeat means they have won just once in 12 games, a confidence-sapping run which has seen them slip from a position of relative security into real danger.

Darlington had got into a winning position against Exeter, but it was a familiar tale as they were forced to settle for a point.

Quakers fell behind in the 19th minute to a Carl Pettefer goal, but Danny Mellanby prodded home the equaliser early in the second half. Mellanby again showed impressive predatory instincts when he met a Gary Pearson free kick to put Darlington ahead five minutes later, but the Grecians earned a point after Sean Devine pulled them level midway through the half.

Quakers face a daunting trip to third-placed Scunthorpe United tomorrow.