Ebbsfleet United could not find another big performance to come back against a former Football League club as they slipped to a home defeat to Darlington on Saturday.

After beating Stockport and Grimsby and drawing with Luton in their last three home games in Blue Square Bet Premier, they could not make it seven league games without defeat as they were undone by a double from former hero Liam Hatch.

Hatch opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Fleet keeper Preston Edwards spilled a corner at the feet of the former Fleet man who made no mistake.

Things didn't get any better for Fleet before the break as they looked off-form and some kamikaze defending almost gifted the visitors a second on more than one occasion with Edwards redeeming himself with a low save from Adam Rundle.

Fleet had come from behind at the break to take points in the last three home games so hopes of a comeback lingered but Hatch was twice denied a second by Edwards as Fleet looked no better than they had in the opening half.

However the equaliser arrived out of nowhere on 66 minutes when Calum Willock (pictured) beat Sam Russell to the ball to head home and ignite memories of other dramatic turnarounds.

However the visitors were back in front just five minutes later as Hatch snuck in at the back post to ram past Edwards and restore Darlington's lead.

Fleet changed to a more attacking line-up and Michael West saw a shot easily held while Jamie Darvill's cross deflected just wide, but with Fleet caught short at the back as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser, Dale Hopson added the third in stoppage-time by latching onto Craig Stone's missed clearance and rounding Edwards before slotting home.

The defeat saw Fleet drop to 15th, behind their conquerors.

Why were Fleet so below their best on Saturday? Leave your comments below.