Oxford performed a smash and grab raid on Darlington on Saturday, as Quakers dominated the game but were left to rue bucket loads of missed chances.

It was obvious from their unadventurous style of play that they came for a point but managed all three due to Quakers' blunt attack and a lapse in defence.

Darlington slumped to their first defeat of the season and now, after just three games, they are already on the slide.

Next up is a tricky encounter at promotion candidates Rochdale. And a defeat at Spotland would cause as much harm to the promotion bid as it would to team morale and confidence, which was something badly needed in front of goal.

Darlington dominated possession but missed a bag full of chances against a resolute and obdurate Oxford United side, who were clearly content to defend in numbers which did little to make an entertaining game.

What made the defeat even more galling was that Darlington were not, and this season have not been, particularly attractive to watch. Long balls to Barry Conlon are a frequent feature of Quakers' play which did not adhere Tommy Taylor's side to the paying public, who met the final whistle with a chorus of boos.

Granted, because of these long balls - a high percentage of which were won by Conlon, thus keeping possession in Oxford's final third - Darlington were able to keep the pressure on the visiting back four. And few would argue if the tactic was rewarded with three points.

But Quakers could not muster even a draw which is why so many departed Feethams feeling frustrated.

Taylor was just as annoyed as he lamented Matt Clarke's hesitancy which cost Darlington the only goal of the game. His dallying on the touchline halfway into Darlington's half conceded a throw-in, which was taken quickly, and with Clarke remonstrating with the linesman, Steve Basham collected the ball and put the visitors in to a surprise lead.

The Darlington boss labelled it a "stoomer of a goal" and his interpretation is not printable. Nonetheless, it was obvious for all to see: Quakers gifted Oxford the goal with slack defending.

"That goal was terrible, schoolboy stuff," said Taylor who said he wasn't concerned whether or not Darlington should have been awarded the throw-in from which Oxford scored. "We had four opportunities to clear the ball, but Clarke has stood on the ball, fallen over and he's still on the floor when they throw the ball back in.

"I don't know if it should have been our throw or not, but I know the ball should have been down their end of the pitch anyway.

"It was a great shot. But Collett had two shots to save all day and one of them was a goal. We had the ball in their half all day and I just thought a better quality ball into the box would have given us a better opportunity to score a goal.

"Oxford could be near the top at the end of the season and I've just told the players that we've just lost to a team that we should have beaten."

With Adam Rundle rested, Ashley Nicholls moved to the left wing to accommodate Jon Cullen, who made his Darlington debut in central midfield alongside Neil Maddison, whose hard work during pre-season is certainly paying off as he enjoyed another influential 90 minutes.

Cullen showed some nice touches but neither side showed much guile during a tame first 45 minutes. Darlington did create more, and better, scoring opportunities than the visitors, who were more interested in defending as they aimed to secure their first away points of the season.

With Oxford willing to sit back, Quakers enjoyed most of the ball in the first half with Nicholls and Conlon both having chances but Neil Wainwright will feel he could have done better with a close-range header from Nicholls' inviting cross.

Oxford's first chance of the game came on 40 minutes, and five minutes later they grabbed the game's only goal. Clarke's mistake led to one-time Taylor target, Basham, lashing the ball across Collett and inside the far post for a special goal.

Quakers upped the tempo in second period but to no avail. Phil Hadland was introduced as a second half substitute for his debut, but his crosses went to waste.

The closest Darlington came to scoring was via one of several pin-point Maddison free-kicks but Conlon's header smacked off the inside of the post.

Oxford stole three points, converting one of only two shots on target.

But it was enough because Quakers failed to score from 16 attempts at goal and that fact will make sorry reading for Darlington's forwards.

Read more about the Quakers here.