FOR Brentford, Darlington’s final home game of the season proved to be a momentous occasion, the day they clinch the League Two title with a 3-1 win. But for Darlington it should have represented so much more than simply an opportunity for players and supporters to show mutual appreciation.

Instead that, as far as Quakers were concerned, was all it was good for. And a chance for fans to let former chairman George Houghton know what they think of him.

From his position in the directors box he can have been left in no doubt as to who supporters blame for Darlington’s decline.

If the chants aimed in his direction were not enough, then the small but vociferous group that confronted Houghton in a corridor en route to the boardroom at half-time surely did.

At that stage the contest was over with Brentford 2-0 up and Darlington a man down.

They had been since the second minute when defender Alan White got himself sent off for elbowing Damian Spencer. He protested his innocence, but referee Rob Shoebridge was in no doubt.

The fourth dismissal of his Quakers career was easily the earliest at only 70 seconds.

It was almost as early as the red card he earned while playing for Colchester at Hartlepool United in 2003. That day he was dismissed for hauling down Eifion Williams after 128 seconds.

White will serve a fourmatch ban that starts on Saturday and will be completed next season.

Spencer was stretchered off with a suspected fractured cheekbone but manager Dave Penney defended his player, saying: “Alan caught him with his elbow but I don’t think it was deliberate.

“It sounded as though there was a crack and there were a lot of worried people at first.”

Quakers held their own until Brentford’s Alan Bennett got the opening goal midway through the first half after which came two strikes either side of the break from striker Billy Clarke, who spent the first half of the season with Darlington.

So instead of lifting silverware after the game, Penney led his players back on to the pitch to thank the fans for their support after a traumatic season.

Supporters made it clear they appreciate the efforts of players who have hardly been paid during the last three months.

Penney said: “I’m sure the fans are pleased with the effort the players have put in, not just today but all season.

After we went into administration they have shown character to play on with very little pay. It’s been difficult.

“They deserve great credit, especially for the way they performed recently.

“There are some good characters in the squad which wasn’t the case when I first came here. There were bad characters here, people leading their lives badly off the pitch.

“But these players have been first class.”

B e i n g down to ten men so early did not bode well, though Darlington coped until Bennett scrambled home from a disputed corner.

Quakers’ Ian Miller and Clarke had slid the ball out of play, and both the linesman and Shoebridge stared at each other for an eternity, waiting for one another to decide what to do.

Shoebridge opted for a corner and it was not his only gaff as he also made a decision without seeing the incident.

That can be the only explanation for awarding a freekick against Curtis Main who, completely unaware, with his back had blocked keeper Ben Hamer’s miscued low kick.

Penney sent on Neil Austin for Main as Q u a k e r s switched to 4-3-2, having tried a three-man defence after White’s early exit. But just before the break came Clarke’s first goal, a glancing header after meeting a David Hunt free-kick.

Shoebridge denied Darlington a penalty on 54 minutes despite Brentford’s John Halls sending Franz Burgmeier to the turf as he attempted to latch on to an Abbott pass. And within seconds it was 3-0, Clarke doubling his tally with a solo effort.

He avoided several challenges before lashing the ball home from the edge of the area.

Darlington pulled one back through Pawel Abbott, the striker tucking home from six yards after latching on to Rob Purdie’s pass to give the Quakers something to cheer.

But it was the large contingent of Brentford fans who were celebrating most. Their win, coupled with Wycombe’s draw at Port Vale, signalled the start of a promotion party and left Quakers contemplating what might have been.

For those not travelling to Chester on Saturday, it was an opportunity to say goodbye to a team that is sure to be torn apart in the summer.

Penney admitted several of his players have already received approaches.

“I know a few have already been spoken to with clubs saying ‘come May 4 we can start paying you and pay your wages over the summer’,” said Penney. “Players aren’t going to wait here all summer in the hope that they might get paid.

If they can find a club to pay them in the summer then they’ll go.

“You can’t blame, anybody in any line of work would do the same.”