Who said Darlington have nothing to play for this season?

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth - a side who themselves have a lot to play for at the other end of the table - means Quakers are now just seven points above the relegation zone.

More worrying for caretaker boss Mick Tait was the manner in which they suffered their first league defeat in five games.

For 90 minutes they were outplayed by an impressively well organised Bournemouth side desperate to hold on to the third automatic promotion place.

And Tait, who once again opted for a three-man central defensive partnership, struggled to take many positives from a game he'll surely want to forget.

"We do tend to change things a little bit away from home which has worked very well for us in the past," said Tait. "But when players don't carry it out then it all falls apart.

"We just didn't compete with them right from the start.

"They were a yard quicker than us all over the pitch.

"We've just had a poor day especially with passing the ball."

With four points from their previous two outings, hopes were high ahead of the game against a Bournemouth side reeling from from two straight defeats.

And after taking a point from Hartlepool and beating York in midweek, Tait had hoped some deserved time off would have worked to his side's advantage.

"We tried to ease down on the players this week after two tough games but it just hasn't worked at all," said Tait."I don't know why they looked so sluggish because they've had enough rest this week.

"You can see why Bournemouth are near the top of the league because they're a very good side."

Tait made one change from the side which beat York with Richard Hodgson coming in for striker Danny Mellanby, who was suffering from tonsillitis.

With little over a minute on the clock, Quakers were thankful to see the lineman's flag raised when James Hayter found the net.

Wade Elliott's cross from the right was headed goalbound by Hartlepool-born striker Steve Fletcher and helped on beyond keeper Andy Collett by Hayter who was in an offside position.

A beleagured Quakers were left chasing shadows in the opening stages with Cherries' skipper Carl Fletcher the first to test Collett with a long range effort which was brilliantly tipped wide.

Ryan Valentine won his side a free-kick in the 18th minute and Quakers' first shot almost produced a goal.

Defender Gary Pearson, outstanding in recent weeks, stepped up 35 yards out and struck the upright with a thunderous drive which had keeper Neil Moss well beaten.

Five minutes later Quakers earned another free-kick five yards closer to goal this time after Barry Conlon was held back but Valentine ballooned his effort over.

Skipper Craig Liddle came to the rescue in the 27th minute when he turned away Stephen Purches' dangerous cross from the right with Hayter lurking. Only half cleared, the ball fell to the feet of Garreth O'Connor, who, in acres of space, carried the ball across the edge of the area before letting fly with a curling effort past the outstretched Collett to give Bournemouth a deserved lead.

Quakers, who held Bournemouth to a 2-2 draw earlier in the season, looked for an instant reply and Conlon volleyed over.

Liddle was then forced to hook away Hayter's cross from the right as the home side continued to lay siege on goal.

And it was Marcus Browning who was the unlikely saviour in the Quakers defence when he denied his side a second goal.

Browning knew little about Collett's goalline parry from a Purches cross and with the ball heading into the back of the net the Cherries midfielder was on hand to clear the danger unwittingly with his back.

Purches continued to cause all sorts of problems down the right whipping in an inviting cross for Fletcher, which was tipped over by Collett and then setting up Danny Thomas who should have done better when he lashed wide from close range.

"The worrying thing is we should be two or three up by now," was the comment from one Bournemouth reporter.

And while part of that factor could be laid down to poor finishing from the home side, a resolute Quakers defence must receive some credit.

They continued to frustrate a menacing forward line led by the boxer-like frame of Steve Fletcher.

While strike partner Hayter, who enjoyed a lively first half, struggled to enjoy as much freedom in the second period, where he was well marshalled by Pearson - until the 66th minute that is.

Hayter delivered a sucker punch when he doubled his side's advantage, placing through the legs of Collett after a well measured through ball from O'Connor.

The second goal seemed to settle the nerves of the home side who nearly added a third when first Collett denied Steve Fletcher with his legs and then goalscorer Hayter blazed over from outside the area.

Collett was called into action again in the 72nd minute, brilliantly tipping another effort wide, this time from Elliott.

Even with a two-goal cushion, the home side refused to sit back with Thomas and Browning both going close.

Tait introduced Ian Clark and Neil Wainwright late on but by then the 'contest' had long been settled.

Result: Bournemouth 2 Darlington 0.

Read more about the Quakers here.