Liam Hardy scored a dramatic winner as Quakers came back from 2-1 down with two goals in the last five minutes.

It was the second time in three weeks that Quakers had come from behind, following on from the 3-1 comeback at Salford. On that occasion, Quakers pulled off their recovery in the space of 20 minutes, this time it was in just five minutes, with the1,587 crowd -- the second highest of the season behind the Blyth game -- completely enthralled on a windy night.

Quakers had more of the possession in the opening ten minutes, and Lee Gaskell won the first corner with some clever footwork inside the area, but Terry Galbraith’s setpiece came to nothing.

Salford had their first chance when Josh Hine picked the ball up on the left side of the Darlington area, but mishit his shot wide.

They had another half-opportunity on 19 minutes with a deep free kick to the far post where Steve Howson got in a header which looped in the air and was easily held by Jameson.

Quakers bounced back on the left hand side when Lee Gaskell cut inside from the left and tried to beat Jay Lynch with a 30 yarder, but the ball went straight to the keeper.

Leon Scott was booked for a late challenge and Steve Howson yellow carded for running 20 yards to confront him, then Luke Clark was booked for tripping Scott.

Gaskell then tried an ambitious effort from the right, when he picked up a loose clearance, stepped inside a defender, and curled a right foot shot that with the wind assisting it, went just wide of the far post.

Thompson nearly scored from a corner on 30 minutes when he whipped the ball into the six yard box on the wind, and Lynch did well to punch the ball away,and then Galbraith curled a free kick from the right into the box that nobody could quite get a touch on.

Salford caused a scare when Hine got around the back of the defence and set up Jordan Hulme, but his shot was blocked.

Quakers went their closest yet on 34 minutes when Turnbull found Cartman in the box, Cartman turned quickly and shot, but Lynch saved.

But Hine got through at the other end one-on-one, and fortunately Jameson blocked his shot.

Towards half time, Tom Portas had a shot deflected over, and Galbraith’s corner was saved at the near post.

Quakers took the lead just on half time, when Galbraith whipped a corner in from the right, that seemed to take a deflection on its way into the net.

Half time Darlington 1 Salford City 0

Attendance 1,587

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Salford levelled straight after the restart. A deep corner from the right was headed back into the six yard box, where Chris Lynch headed in.

But Quakers nearly regained the lead in a goalmouth scramble when Thompson’s header was held by Jay Lynch.

Quakers kept the pressure going, and Thompson crossed from the right for Gaskell, at full stretch, to head over the top.

Salford replied with a long range shot by Luke Clark that was deflected over the top.

Liam Hardy, on for Gaskell, created a chance for himself when he held off a defender, but couldn’t get enough power behind his shot and Lynch saved.

Quakers created an opening when Thompson found Cartman in the box, and even though Cartman beat the keeper, the ball was headed off the line by a defender.

But Quakers fell behind nine minutes from the end from another corner, that was floated over to the far post where Josh Hine forced the ball home.

However, Quakers response was immediate. A Gary Brown throw from the right was cleared as far as Scott, who hit a terrific right volley past the static keeper from the edge of the box.

And then, in the last minute, Quakers scored again in sensational fashion. Galbraith’s corner from the right caused chaos, Cartman had a shot blocked, but the ball ran for Hardy to coolly squeeze into the net between the keeper and the post -- what a time to score his first goal for the club!

There were a few minutes of stoppage time, but Quakers held on to go second in the table.

Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Portas, Scott, Gaskell (sub Hardy 60), Cartman, Thompson (sub Armstrong 80)

Subs: Provett, Mitchell, Nowakowski

Bookings: Scott (foul) Hunter (foul), Hardy (over-celebrating)

Salford: J Lynch, O’Halloran, Howson, Stopforth, Dawson (sub Gumbs 77), C Lynch, Hulme (sub Johnson 77), Clark, Poole, Hine, Webber (sub Seddon 66)

Subs: Mwabile, Allen

Booking: Howson (ungentlemanly conduct), Clark (Foul), Webber (foul), Dawson (foul)

Attendance 1,587

Referee: Will Finnie

Referee: Will Finnie