Darlington were somewhat unlucky to drop out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle. Quakers were more than equal to their hosts who rarely looked two divisions better. Dave Penney's side posed questions to a Barnsley side clearly lacking in early season confidence. A 4-1 home defeat on the opening day of the season ensured that Oakwell was a nervous place prior to kick-off and when the half time interval arrived the home support's nerves had become clear frustration.

It was Barnsley who made the breakthrough first but even after substitute Istvan Ferenczi's headed opener the home side never looked comfortable and minutes later former Tykes forward Tommy Wright fired in a superb equaliser. Whilst the home side improved in the final stages of the game, Darlington's ten men heroics the game before perhaps catching up with them, and grabbed a winner just over ten minutes from time this was another encouraging showing for Darlington.

Penney's side, which included a debut for John Brackstone following Tim Ryan's injury at the weekend along with Alan White and Rob Purdie, signalled their intentions early in the game when Chris Palmer delivered dangerously from the left in the opening minutes. The home side nearly made White pay however when he was caught in possession by Miguel Mostto. He though wasted his chance by screwing horribly wide. Four minutes later and an excellent free-kick delivered from the left by Kevin McBride found skipper Stephen Foster but he could only plant his header the wrong side of the back post.

Barnsley struggled to impose themselves on the tie with only a couple of efforts from Rohan Ricketts threatening Darlington. The hard working Wright fired just over the bar a few moments before half time as little remained to choose between the two teams. Five minutes after the restart the visitors should have taken the lead when Wright flung his body at the ball as it rebounded off Heniz Muller in the Barnsley goal who had parried Foster's downward header direct from a free-kick.

Quakers' backline gave very little to the home side but as the second half wore on Kayode Odejayi started to stretch things with some powerful running. Close to the hour mark the former Cheltenham player burst down the right and crossed low however Stockdale, excellent all night, parried the ball away from danger. Whilst Darlington looked strong at the back the visitors defence would have been disappointed with the two goals they conceded which handed Barnsley the tie.

Hungarian international Ferenczi climbed off the bench and sixty seconds later was celebrating. Odejayi spread the ball out wide to Robert Kozluk who crossed for Ferenczi to score his first goal of the season with a nicely timed header. Quakers though were worthy contestants and roared back into the tie five minutes afterwards. McBride broke away down the right wing and crossed for Wright to riffle home in impressive fashion against his old club.

Things did not stay level for long however and seven minutes later a corner kick was allowed to bounce in the area where Paul Reid pulled the trigger and fired home to put his side into round two. Darlington would have been worthy of extra time but two defensive lapses in an otherwise solid performance were seized upon meaning Quakers will have to concentrate on the league for the time being. Given the priorities this season that may well not be a bad thing for Penney's side who have made plenty of encouraging noises in their opening two fixtures.

Barnsley: Muller, Kozluk (McCann 83), Nyatanga, Reid, Souza, Werling, Howard, Johnson (Togwell 69), Ricketts, Mostto (Ferenczi 64), Odejayi. Subs: Colgan, Devaney, Togwell, McCann, Ferenczi.

Darlington: Stockdale, Purdie, White, Foster, Brackstone, Palmer (Cummins 66), Joachim, Ravenhill, McBride (Blundell 79), Wright, Abbott (Harty 76). Subs: Burgess, Wiseman, Blundell, Harty, Cummins.

Barnsley bookings: Reid.

Darlington bookings: Ravenhill.

Goals: Ferenczi 65th min (0-1), Wright 70th min (1-1), Reid 77th min (1-2).

Report by Kevin Luff.