Former Darlington striker Lee Nogan returned to haunt his old club and helped to put them out of the FA Cup with a second half goal at Luton's Kenilworth Road last night.

Nogan was released by Quakers in October and struck as his old side were showing signs of getting into the game after being pushed back in the first half.

But Quakers could have no complaints about the outcome as too many players had an off-night and saw a third round place slip away to a much-slicker and passionate home side.

The goal finished Darlington's brief revivial with Paul McLaren making the game safe 11 minutes from the end.

The defeat extends Quakers' miserable run to seven defeats in their last ten League and cup outings and Bennett blasted: "I was very unhappy with the performance. Certain individuals were told in the dressing room that they didn't perform at all.

"We started the second-half well, but one stupid free-kick meant that we were left chasing the game. It was a very poor performance against a side which was there for the taking.''

Luton attacked from the start with Liam George poking a left foot shot wide in the opening minutes.

And they went even closer after six minutes when Andrew Fotiadis set up Paul McLaren and Andy Collett had to push his effort over.

Quakers had an escape after 11 minutes when Collett failed to hold another strike from McLaren and George put the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Quakers burst into life after 25 minutes when Stuart Elliott found space in midfield and hit a 30-yarder with his right foot which Luton keeper Nathan Abbey saved.

The visitors nearly gifted the home side the lead after 29 minutes.

Matthew Spring curled in a corner from the left and Kevin Kyle, trying to clear, could only head towards his own goal where Collett pulled off an excellent save low down to his left.

The keeper should have had no chance after 33 minutes when Spring picked out the unmarked Adrian Whitbread from a free kick, but the centre half somehow headed wide from six yards.

With the home crowd growing anxious, Quakers caused concern at the other end with first Gary Himsworth and then Kyle missing the target from good positions.

And they nearly went ahead after 39 minutes when the Luton defence failed to clear a Martin Gray free kick and Glenn Naylor forced Abbey into a save at full stretch with a volley from ten yards.

Quakers played out the closing stages of the half without Craig Liddle who suffered a head injury, but was able to continue, while Kyle was also in some discomfort with an ankle injury.

Kyle failed to reappear for the second half and was replaced by Jesper Hjorth, who immediately made his mark on the game with a couple of probing runs which raised Quakers' hopes. And they nearly took the lead after 55 minutes when Abbey made a mess of a clearance under pressure from Naylor, but Hjorth could not take advantage.

However, Quakers fell behind after 61 minutes.

A free kick by Matthew Spring from the halfway line was headed across the face of goal by Julian Watts for Nogan to head past Collett for his first goal for his new club.

Gary Bennett's response was to bring on Richard Hodgson for Himsworth but they nearly fell further behind after 65 minutes when Fotiadis raced clear and hit the bar from just inside the box.

Then Nogan nearly got a second, but he was inches away from connecting on to a low cross just a couple of yards out.

Quakers were then forced to take off Liddle because of his head injury, Phil Brumwell replacing him.

And a miserable night was complete after 79 minutes when McLaren hit a superb low, right foot shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards with Collett helpless