Darlington 2 Stockport County 1

Darlington came from behind with a terrific fightback to pick up the points thanks to Adam Mitchell’s first goal of the season.

Quakers gave Jordan Watson, signed in the summer from Blyth, his debut at left back because of injury to Kevin Burgess, with Terry Galbraith moving to the centre alongside Chris Hunter. Phil Turnbull took over the captain’s armband.

Stockport nearly took full advantage of that reshuffled defence in the first half as they created and missed several chances.

Darlington manager Martin Gray, whose side is now fourth in the table, said: “I thought it was a great result, considering that we had two centre halves out injured.

“We knew that they would be a tough team to beat because they are very similar to ourselves, so to get a win after the defeat last Friday, was a great response.

“We made three changes in our back four, and Jordan Watson was thrown in the deep end and did fantastic. Chris Hunter and Terry Galbraith won good headers and made big clearances. The clearance by Liam Marrs off the line when we were 1-0 down was a big turning point in the game. We had a touch of luck that you need every now and again.”

Quakers had a chance in the first minute. Galbraith launched the ball forward and Hardy made a good run into the box where he set up Tom Portas, whose shot was blocked.

Stockport took the lead on 20 minutes when a long ball over the defence forced Galbraith to turn and try and head the ball back to Jameson, but he didn’t get enough power behind his header, Ball intercepted and rolled the ball into the net.

Quakers nearly equalised straight away, when Stephen Thompson hit a piledriver from 25 yards out that struck the bar.

It was nearly two when Quakers nearly got caught on the break, Ball’s mishit shot looped up in the air and Jameson had to tip over.

And Quakers were exposed again when Josh Amis burst away and played the ball inside to Lloyd, who managed to beat Jameson, but Marrs appeared from nowhere and hooked the ball off the line.

Quakers survived, and levelled on 42 minutes. Marrs found Mitchell and the right winger crossed perfectly for Beck to beat Hinchcliffe with a stooping header from eight yards.

Quakers had a let off when Jordan Watson completely miscued a clearing header and Michael Clarke’s low shot was pushed away by Jameson. Lloyd, from an acute angle, fired into the side netting.

The tempo increased with Quakers having more of the game, and they took the lead on 65 minutes, when Thompson and Beck combined well inside the penalty area, and Thompson rolled the ball back for Mitchell to sidefoot his first goal of the season into the roof of the net.

Stockport nearly levelled straight away when Lewis Montrose fired powerfully towards goal, Jameson palmed the ball upwards, but it dropped on to the bar, and back into the grateful hands of the keeper.

Darlington: Jameson, Marrs, Galbraith, Turnbull, Watson, Hunter, Thompson (Purewal 78), Portas (Nowakowski 71), Beck, Hardy (Cartman 50), Mitchell. Subs (not used): Bell, Scott

Stockport County: Hinchcliffe, Ross, Duxbury, Montrose, Clarke, Smalley, Minihan, Ball, Amis (Spencer 65), Marsden (Carney 65), Lloyd (Odejayi 65) Subs (not used): Ormson, Rule

Referee: Billy Khatib (Teesside)

Attendance 1,730