The north-east of England continues to be a hotbed of disappointment for Shrewsbury Town.

Their last venture up the A1 11 months ago produced an FA Cup humiliation at Blyth Spartans, and another unwanted statistic came Town’s way in the same part of the world on Saturday.

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In becoming the first team to lose to Darlington in the Football League this season, Shrewsbury spurned a golden opportunity to mount a fresh assault on the division’s leading places.

And what’s more, they could have few complaints as the Quakers earned more points in 90 minutes than they had done in their previous dozen games.

All the more frustrating was that Town had appeared to suck what life new manager Steve Staunton had injected into his Darlington team with a second minute headed goal from Lewis Neal. But aided by what, after the first 25 minutes, became a dis-jointed display from Town, Darlington took the initiative with goals either side of half-time.

Shrewsbury continue to be plagued by a shockingly long injury list – now including Dave Hibbert and Jake Robinson – which continues to eat away Paul Simpson’s options.

But even allowing for that mis-fortune, Shrewsbury should still have possessed the artillery to avoid defeat at the ever-impressive Northern Echo Arena.

“It’s very disappointing,” admitted Paul Murray. “They are not the bottom team in the Football League for no reason and we have come here and not played very well at all.

“We had a good start but didn’t capitalise on it. When we conceded, we had to keep it tight and not concede again and we didn’t do that.

“There are things to look at.”

A better start Shrewsbury couldn’t have wished for as Neal drifted in from the right to take up a central position to nod home a Jake Robinson centre from close range.

At that stage, Darlington appeared there for the taking as the confidence surged through Town and drained from the hosts.

And Robinson wasted a gilt-edged chance to give Town what would – in all likelihood – have been a match-winning 2-0 lead by poking a one-on-one opportunity wide of the post after being sent clear by Neal.

But no sooner had Shrewsbury taken control of the game than they relinquished it.

Slowly but surely, Darlington muscled their way into the game as Shrewsbury got pushed back, struggled to retain possession and became guilty of conceding numerous free-kicks around the edge of their box.

One of those was to prove costly on 27 minutes as Darlington levelled.

There was an element of fortune about the equaliser as a free-kick from the impressive James Devitt rebounded off the post and into the net off Steve Phillips’ back.

But with Gary Smith crashing a 25-yard effort off the woodwork moments earlier, it was a goal Darlington had been threatening. And one they took full advantage of.

From that moment on Shrewsbury, for whom Robinson limped off with an ankle problem , offered next to no attacking threat with both shadow strikers Nathan Elder and Kris Bright doing little to press their claims of greater involvement after extended run-outs.

What few chances came in the second period went the way of Darlington who remained firmly on the front foot.

Several balls flashed across the face of Phillips’ goal while Jeff Smith was only narrowly wide with a shot from the edge of the box.

And the hosts grabbed what was to prove a deserved winner with 31 minutes remaining when, after a needless corner was conceded, poor marking allowed Kevin Gall to poke a volley goalwards.

Phillps made a fine initial save – only for Simon Thomas to respond first to slot home the rebound. Darlington became increasingly fraught as they closed in on their first victory, but Shrewsbury failed to put the hosts under any sustained pressure.

It was that type of day for Simpson’s side who, for the second successive week, fell short of the performance levels required.

After four consecutive wins, Shrewsbury’s season has suddenly hit a glitch with back-to-back defeats, a run which needs ending sooner rather than later.

By JAMES GARRISON