Darlington: Russell Hoult, Paul Arnison, Stephen Foster (c), Ian Miller, Jeff Smith, Gary Smith (Corey Barnes 90), James Chandler, Jamie Devitt, Kevin Gall (Curtis Main 75), Moses Barnett, Simon Thomas

Subs: David Knight, Matthew Plummer, James Bennett, Curtis Main, Daniel Groves, Mark Convery, Corey Barnes

Goal: Devitt, Thomas

Town: Steve Phillips, Dean Holden, Kelvin Langmead (c), Jake Robinson (Nathan Elder 35), Kris Bright (Andre Gray 57), Paul Murray (Steven Leslie 69), Harry Hooman, Lewis Neal, Shane Cansdell-Sherriff, Joss Labadie, Kevin McIntyre

Subs: Nathan Elder, Steven Leslie, Andre Gray, Jake Simpson, Andreas Arestidou, Will Richards, Danny Taylor

Goal: Neal

Ref: A Haines
Assistants: R Atkin & D Storrie
Fourth Official: D McCallum

Town are forced into a couple of changes with Graham Coughlan suspended and Dave Hibbert missing with a slight achilies, Jake Simpson drops to the bench while Joss Labadie returns from suspension, Harry Hooman comes in for his first league start at centre-back and Kris Bright also make his first start.

Town looked bright from the first kick of the game and got off to a great start by taking the lead with just over 2 minutes on the clock. The visitors broke down the right and Robinson came over to find space, he then put over a decent ball that Lewis Neal got to a looped a header over Hoult to make it 1-0 to Town.

There was an early injury concern for Town after Jake Robinson took a knock when challenging for the ball.He stayed down and needed treatment from the Town physio Nathan Ring but was ok to continue though seemed to be trying to run off the knock.

Darlington began to settle the longer the half went on and they started to look a threat to the visitors.They were getting the ball out wide to try and get in behind Town and were getting a few half chances from this approach.

Town had a great chance to add to their lead with a superbly worked break, the ball was held up by Bright and pushed to Neal, he then played a great ball through the Darlington defence to put Jake Robinson in on goal from about 40 yards, he continued his run and clipped a shot past the outrushing Hoult but it had a little too much on it and went wide of the target.

Darlington were getting nearer to Phillips goal and a long range effort from Gary Smith beat Phillips but hit the post and then came back out.They did beat Phillips though minutes later when Dean Holden was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled on the edge of the box.From the resulting free-kick Jamie Devitt placed the ball and then drove in a shot which beat Phillips, it then hit the base of the left hand post and then spun back round and struck Phillips before going into the goal.

With 35 minutes of the half gone Paul Simpson was forced into a change with Nathan Elder coming on to replace Jake Robinson, he had failed to run off the earlier knock and had been hobbling.

Town were looking a little disjointed at times and needed to take a moment to calm things down.There were a few misplaced passes and balls and this was allowing Darlington to have some decent pressure and to give the home fans something to shout about.

Half-time: 1-1

Town really showed their desire after the break when Elder ran down a backpass to Hoult, the Darlo keeper scuffed the ball up after Elder got a foot in, Town though couldn't get hold of the ball and after what seemed an age Hoult finally cleared down field.

Darlington still offered a big threat to Town and were trying to put pressure onto the visitors goal. Town weren't helping their cause though and were failing to keep the ball and take the pressure off their own goal.Darlo won a corner after Town failed to clear their lines, the ball came over and found Ian Miller, he stabbed a shot in that Phillips did well to save but there was Simon Thomas to slot the ball home from close range.

Steve Leslie came onto replace Paul Murray and that was the last of the options Paul Simpson had to change from the bench.It was still a disjointed game with neither side really taking hold and control.Town were still making too many unforced errors and needed that little spark to get them back into the game.

Town had a good chance to get back into the game when the broke out from a Darlo attack, it came to Elder who held it up before releasing Andre Gray down the right, he kept his run going and attacked the Darlo defence, broke into the box, rode one challenge and then another looking for the shot, he stabbed the ball past Hoult but a Darlo defender came across to clear up and take the ball away.It could have been a different outcome though had one of the Town players gambled on the loose ball.

Full-time: 1 - 2