Darlington fell to only their second home defeat of the season as Mansfield Town staged a remarkable comeback. Quakers were ahead by a single goal with moments remaining until half time thanks to a Neil Austin goal. However an off the ball incident involving Alan White and Mansfield's Jefferson Louis changed the direction of the game.

White was adjudged to have struck the Stags player moments before the break and was shown a straight red card. It allowed the visitors to enjoy a much more comfortable second half in which they scored twice and gave Quakers very little openings. The result sees Darlington drop to third in the table. In truth though Mansfield were well worthy of their three points following a good performance.

The match started slowly but after ten minutes Mansfield started to enjoy the better of the game with David Stockdale forced into a good save from Louis' strike. Skipper Steve Foster was on hand to lift the ball to safety before it could come to any danger.

Louis was a danger soon afterwards when his shot was blocked and then after quarter of hour he was at it again when Johnny Mullins headed on a free kick from Lee Bell. However Louis failed to connect properly.

Darlington though managed to finally pile some pressure on through a series of corner kicks and on twenty-two minutes Austin slid the ball home through a crowd of players almost on top of the goal-line. A difficult bounce from the ball on the pitch almost let Gregg Blundell in on goal as Quakers started to get comfortable but White's red card, spotted by the linesman, changed the game as half time neared.

The sending off forced manager Dave Penney to reshuffle his side after the break. Defender Ian Miller came on for Rob Puride but the away team quickly pulled levelled. First Stockdale saved a shot from Rory Boulding and then stopped an effort from
Matthew Hamshaw. Having already proved something of a troublesome figure earlier in the game Louis continued to pose problem and ten minutes after half time he
headed home from Hamshaw's cross with the ball finally going in off the upright.

The away team were far the better side during the second half and took a deserved a lead on sixty-four minutes. Louis headed the ball into Stephen Dawson's path and the midfielder dribbled into Quakers' penalty area before drilling past Stockdale.

In an effort to get back into the game Neil Wainwright was bought on in favour of Bryan Hodge. Wainwright provided some much needed forward imputes and he almost created a chance for Tommy Wright. Wainwright was also subject to a horrendous challenge on the halfway line by Keith Briggs however no caution was forthcoming to the dismay of the home support.

Boulding went close to adding a third goal for the visitors and only a terrific save from close range by Stockdale denied him. Quakers continued to work hard to find a way back into the game but Mansfield's man advantage was always going to make it especially difficult and so it proved.

Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Foster, Valentine, Joachim, Ravenhill, Hodge (Wainwright 72), Purdie (Miller 46), Blundell (Cummins 62), Wright. ?Subs: Kazimierczak, Gall, Wainwright, Cummins, Miller.

Mansfield: Muggleton, Briggs (Wood 84), Mullins, Buxton, Jelleyman, Hamshaw, Dawson, Bell (D'Laryea 45, (Brown 90)), Atkinson, Michael Boulding, Louis. ?Subs: White, Holmes, Brown, Wood, D'Laryea.

Darlington bookings: Wright, Blundell, White (sent off 45).

Goals: Austin 22nd min (1-0), Louis 56th min (1-1), Dawson 64th min (1-2).

Report by Kevin Luff.