A DRAMATIC fightback saw Darlington score four second half goals to claim three crucial points with a 4-3 win at promotion rivals Salford City.

Quakers were 2-0 down at half-time and then 3-1 behind in the second half, but showed admirable fighting spirit to claw themselves back into the game to move up to third in the table.

They have leapfrogged Salford thanks to Nathan Cartman’s winner three minutes from the end of a thrilling contest.

Two-goal Lee Gaskell pulled it back to 3-3, the striker playing through the pain barrier after dislocating his shoulder early on.

It was popped back into place with assistance from a physio and a concrete post at the side of the pitch, and his determination to play on epitomised his team-mates’ desire and will to win.

They did not know when they were beaten, even though a draw looked unlikely at the break.

Darlington lost the equivalent game at Moore Lane last season 2-0, and by half-time today it was the same scoreline after conceding two sloppy goals inside 180 seconds midway through the opening period.

The first came on 22 minutes. Seconds after Peter Jameson had made the first save of the game from Danny Webber, new signing Josh Hine rose above Gary Brown to head over keeper Peter Jameson after meeting Scott Burton’s ball from deep, and soon it was 2-0.

After Quakers failed to clear their lines following a free-kick, Chris Lynch converted at close-range after a pass from the right by his centre-back partner Steven Howson.

There had been little between the teams, but suddenly it had all gone wrong for Martin Gray.

For the first time in eight matches he had made changes, Tom Portas and new signing Liam Hardy in for Adam Mitchell and Cartman, but they did not have the desired effect.

Quakers were 2-0 down and Salford were on top, coming close on several occasions to a third goal.

Speedy Hine exploited Darlington’s high line by evading the offside trap, finding himself one-on-one, and while a fine Jameson save denied him, the former Chorley striker will have been kicking himself for not making the most of the opportunity.

Chances continued to come the home side’s wide. Right-back Evan Gumbs cut inside and let fly over Jameson’s bar from distance, and moments later he was off target again after a rapid Salford counter attack.

Darlington were shaky at the back, looking like conceding another, but they gained some ground towards the end of the half and almost pulled one back.

Stephen Thompson had been Darlington’s most dangerous player and he beat keeper Jay Lynch but hit the post, before left-back Steve O’Halloran threw himself in front of shot by Portas.

Each side had penalty shouts in first half injury time, Salford after Brown may have handled, and then Quakers were furious when they were denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty, Gumbs tripping Thompson.

The half-time whistle blew seconds later, leading to several incensed players confronting referee Martin Woods.

Darlington made a go of it at the beginning of the second half, Thompson twice coming close to scoring.

A free-kick was saved by Jay Lynch, who also made another save after patient build-up on the left, instigated by Phil Turnbull, but finally Quakers got the goal they needed to give them hope.

Portas scored after a Quakers counter attack, the ball deflected into his path after Gaskell's pass was intercepted by a defender, however, it was not 2-1 for long.

Quakers were caught cold three minutes later, and again they had themselves to blame. Brown conceded a throw-in, and then was unable to stop Hine's right-wing cross after which Salford’s Danny Webber beat the hesitant Jameson to the ball, the striker tapping in at close-range for 3-1.

Seemingly the points were now Salford’s, the Greater Manchester club heading for another win against Quakers.

Gaskell had other ideas though, rescuing the match by scoring twice inside seven minutes.

First, he latched onto a through-ball by Thompson and kept his composure to execute a neat finish over Lynch, and then a close-range finish after substitute Graeme Armstrong made an almost immediate impact by setting up his team-mate.

Gray had sent on Armstrong and Cartman, and the latter was not done yet.

Cartman had been involved in the build-up to the equaliser, and on 87 minutes he headed home after Turnbull's long free-kick into the penalty area was nodded on by Terry Galbraith.

Salford were shell-shocked, Darlington delighted.

Some fans spilled onto the pitch, Cartman inexplicably booked for hugging Quakers supporters, members of Darlington’s dug-out raced onto the pitch too.

It was a big goal from the little man, but Quakers had to see out six agonising minutes of stoppage time before they could celebrate a memorable win.

In injury time goalkeeper Lynch was dismissed for a second booking, completing a miserable day for the BBC’s favoured non-league club, but a brilliant one for Darlington.

Goals: Hine (22, 1-0), C Lynch (24, 2-0); Portas (59, 2-1); Webber (62, 3-1); Gaskell (70, 3-2), Gaskell (76, 3-3), Cartman (87, 3-4)

Bookings: J Lynch (76, dissent); Cartman (87); J Lynch (90, foul)

Sending-off: J Lynch (90, second bookable offence)

Referee: Martin Woods

Attendance: 881

Salford City (4-4-2): J Lynch; Gumbs, Howson, C Lynch, O'Halloran; Johnston (Mwasile 86), Moses, Burton, Allen; Webber (Seddon 80), Hine. Subs (not used): Dawson, Clark, Dootson

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Hunter, Brown, Burgess, Galbraith; Portas, Turnbull, Scott, Thompson (Cartman 70); Gaskell (Nowakowski 88), Hardy (Armstrong 66). Subs (not used): Provett (gk), Mitchell