DARLINGTON came from behind to beat Mossley to reach the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy at Heritage Park on Saturday, but their performance was less than convincing.

Quakers were a goal down at one point, but goals from Adam Nowakowski, on his home debut, teenager Lewis Walton and sub Nathan Cartman put them through, but the overall performance was below the expectations of manager Martin Gray.

New signing Jakub Hymr had a couple of good early touches -- and then faded -- but Mossley nearly took the lead on 5 minutes when the ball was crossed in from the right and Micky Thomas headed powerfully against the crossbar.

And in the visitors’ next attack, Dave Short turned quickly and forced Peter Jameson into a low save at the foot of his post.

Quakers’ first real chance came on 15 minutes when Rob Youhill crossed from the right, keeper Liam Flynn flapped, and the ball dropped for youngster Lewis Walton, who flashed a right foot shot wide.

But Quakers were opened up again on 19 minutes when Tom Pratt had plenty of time to control the ball on the edge of the box, and he hit a right foot shot past Jameson.

However, Quakers levelled on 28 minutes when a long throw by Lewis Gibbons from the right dropped for Adam Nowakowski, back in the team after being injured on the first day of the season, to slot into the corner past Mossley keeper Liam Flynn.

Nowakowski nearly got a second two minutes later when he just managed to get a flick on an inswinging Terry Galbraith free kick, and Flynn just managed to fumble the ball away at the near post.

Quakers went close again on 37 minutes when Walton flighted a cross over to the far post for Graeme Armstrong to head towards goal, but Flynn saved well.

Quakers looked more purposeful in the second half, and Armstrong tried his luck from 25 yards, but his weak shot went wide.

Quakers took the lead on 62 minutes, when subs Lee Gaskell and Nathan Cartman combined well for Gaskell to hit a right foot shot that was blocked, but the ball ran for Walton to hammer into the roof of the net, to give him second goal for the club in two appearances.

Walton was subbed a few minutes later, with another teenager, Lee Hume, replacing him.

However, Mossley were still dangerous, and Scott Kay slipped the ball through for Mark Fish, but Jameson saved at his feet.

But there was no escape for Quakers, because on 75 minutes Fish picked the ball up on the left for sub Sam Robinson to sidestep a defender, and beat Jameson with a right foot shot into the bottom corner.

However, just two minutes later Cartman was upended by Flynn as he ran into the box on the left, and Cartman sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot for his 10th goal of the season.

Mossley though nearly equalised again when Fish again got away, but Jameson saved at his feet again.

Quakers though held on to go into the second qualifying round, which will also feature Spennymoor, Blyth and Whitby from the north east.