The Shrimps were in many ways the architects of their own downfall as all three Darlington goals came from Morecambe corners.
Darlington cleared quickly and their pace and speed of thought on the counter was clinical.
After a bright start from the Lancashire side, the Quakers took the lead on 28 minutes when a Morecambe corner was cleared and five Darlington players swarmed forward with only two home defenders back.
Pawel Abbott was presented with the first chance which Shwan Jalal did well to save, but the ball broke perfectly for Neil Austin to score his first ever Football League goal after more than 150 appearances.
Morecambe were then denied on several occasions by Darlington keeper David Stockdale, who saved superbly from Craig Stanley low to his right and Michael Twiss, before Stanley was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a rising shot after a storming run.
The home side started the second half on the front foot with Stockdale again saving smartly again from a Twiss header and Garry Thompson's cross flashing across the area, needing only the slightest touch to get the equaliser.
These missed chances were punished when the visitors went two in front and again it came from a corner as Stockdale gathered the ball.
He cleared quickly for substitute Gregg Blundell and his square ball was expertly converted by Julian Joachim.
The Quakers then killed the game off 20 minutes from time with another speedy attack.
Joachim again received the ball in space on the right and he provided Blundell with the perfect chance to slot past the stranded Jalal.
Morecambe were denied a late consolation goal when the excellent Stockdale again foiled Twiss' close-range effort.