Darlington failed miserably in their quest for a semi-final place in the LDV Vans Trophy when they were comprehensively beaten at Vale Park last night.

Quakers had no answer to the strong running of the second division side and if it wasn't for keeper Frank Van Der Geest and central defender Craig Liddle the score would have been much worse.

Angry manager Gary Bennett blasted his players and confessed: "I told them that it was a very poor performance and some of them went into the game with the wrong attitude.

"Some of the others worked very hard but we badly missed the likes of Brian Atkinson and Martin Gray.

"You can't go into games playing five men against 11.

"But I can only work with the resources which I've got and it can only get better. I am desperate to bring somebody in for Saturday.

"The 4-0 scoreline tells its own story. We were very poor and only had a couple of shots at goal."

Van Der Geest was in action as early as the fourth minute when he went full length to push away a free kick from Marc Bridge-Wilkinson.

Vale midfielder Alex Smith took advantage of a yawning gap in the visiting midfield to run 40 yards into the box where Mark Kilty blocked his shot.

Quakers had an escape after 16 minutes when the defence failed to clear a long throw from Michael Walsh and Bridge-Wilkinson volleyed against the bar from ten yards.

Van Der Geest was in the right place to save an unmarked header from Tommy Widdrington after 23 minutes, but he was at fault for the opening goal two minutes later.

Walsh crossed from the right and the Dutchman dashed off his line but he was beaten to the ball by Omandi Lowe who headed into empty net.

The keeper soon redeemed himself by saving well at Tony Naylor's feet, then he punched away a powerful shot from Michael Cummins.

Quakers, after being on the back foot and out of the game for virtually all the first half, nearly levelled out of the blue five minutes before half time.

The home defence failed to clear a left wing corner and Mark Goodlad in the Port Vale goal did well to hold onto Glenn Naylor's shot.

Vale nearly scored within a minute of the restart when Walsh's header from bridge Wilkinson's corner was headed off the line by Paul Campbell, and a minute later Bridge-Wilkinson sent a free kick just over the top.

Walsh put a header just wide after 53 minutes but there was no respite for Quakers who went further behind six minutes later.

Walsh crossed perfectly from the right for the unmarked Allen Tankard to beat Van Der Geest with a diving header. Quakers response was the send on Richard Hodgson and David McMahon for the ineffective Mark Convery and Jesper Hjorth, and McMahon nearly pulled one back when he headed just over from a Naylor corner.

But Quakers were hit again after 70 minutes when Tony Naylor riddled free inside the box and blasted past Van Der Geest.

Four minutes later Naylor got another when Tankard's close range shot was charged down and the little striker snapped up the rebound.

After that it was damage limitation for Quakers.

l Quakers have shown an interest in Hull City midfielder Gary Brabin.

Darlington manager Gary Bennett has been keeping an eye on the financial situation at Hull - players have not been paid for over a month and if they fail to survive a High Court hearing over unpaid Vat and PAYE today, they could be free to leave the club.

Quakers have re-arranged games at York for Tuesday, March 13, and at Exeter for Tuesday, March 27