Darlington's poor start to the game cost them a place in the second round of the FA Cup at Sixfields last night. Quakers lost 2-1 against the League One side, and there were few arguments about the result from assistant manager Martin Gray after his side conceded two goals inside six first half minutes from Andy Kirk and Bradley Johnson.

"We didn't start the game well at all," he said. "At Brentford last Saturday, we imposed ourselves on the game in the first twenty minutes, but we didn't do that last night. We didn't get our passing game going."

"There were too many balls into our box early in the game. The goals we conceded were poor, which was a disappointment because we've been strong as a unit defensively this season."

Keeper David Stockdale dropped a rare clanger when he failed to gather a right wing cross, allowing Andy Kirk to slot the ball into the net for the opening goal after thirty-five minutes, giving Quakers too much work to do.

"It's a decision a keeper has got to make on a horrible wet night. Nine times out of ten he catches them, but unfortunately he made the wrong decision."

"The second goal was also cheap from our point of view, we allowed a cross to get into our box when it should have been cut out."

The Cobblers hit the woodwork through Kirk in the second half while Stockdale made two good saves, but in a stoppage time flourish Tommy Wright grabbed his tenth goal of the season with a diving header, but that was merely a consolation.

"It would have been much more interesting if we'd scored that goal ten minutes earlier," said Gray.

Meanwhile, central defender Alan White, who limped off in the second half, isn't badly injured and should be fit for Quakers' home game on Saturday against Wycombe, while there could be a new face in the squad if manager Dave Penney makes a breakthrough in the loan market before Thursday night's deadline.

Northampton: Bunn, Crowe, Dolman, Hughes, Jackman, Larkin, Burnell, Bradley Johnson, Holt (Jones 86), Hubertz (Aiston 77), Kirk. Subs: Dunn, Brett Johnson, May, Jones, Aiston.

Darlington: Stockdale, Wiseman, White (Burgess 70), Foster, Brackstone, Joachim, Ravenhill, Keltie (Cummins 71), Purdie (Abbott 65), Blundell, Wright. Subs: Oakes, McBride, Cummins, Abbott, Burgess.

Northampton bookings: None.

Darlington bookings: Foster.

Goals: Kirk 36th min (0-1), Bradley Johnson 41st min (0-2), Wright 90th min (1-2).

Ray Simpson