DARLINGTON took an early lead but two Tamworth goals early in the second half meant they were brought down to earth by Dan Newton.

The striker turned the scoreline on its head, inflicting Quakers’ first away league defeat of the campaign.

It was also the club’s first loss in nine league matches, but they had looked on course for another victory when they went 1-0 up with a Terry Galbraith penalty.

Martin Gray’s men went ahead with only four minutes gone last week at Harrogate Town, and today they took the lead with even less time on the clock.

He hit the back of the net for the eighth time this season after Mark Beck had been fouled by Jack Lane only 36 seconds after kick-off.

It is believed to be the first time Darlington have been awarded a first-minute penalty since playing against Crewe at Feethams in March 1994, when Robbie Painter was fouled by goalkeeper Mark Smith.

Unlike last week, when Quakers went on to put in a top performance and led 3-1 at the break, today they were more restrained in their approach and instead sought to contain Tamworth, a team who last week defeated leaders Fylde.

Tamworth had a bit more about them than Harrogate, keeping the ball better and attacking down the sides, while Quakers keeper Peter Jameson was called on to deal with high balls into the penalty area.

Liam Marrs enjoyed another solid game, and he made a finely-timed tackle to take the ball off Greg Mills.

Newton, Tamworth’s top scorer, had his first sight of goal with a low effort from the corner of penalty area dealt with comfortably by Jameson, who also coped with Ellis Deeney’s lofted free-kick, more assured handling by the No. 1.

And he was called on again in injury time. He saved from Ross Dyer at close-range, the Tamworth attacker hitting his shot straight at the keeper.

Jameson was beaten after the restart, however, Newton scoring his tenth league goal by heading home from a corner in the 49th minute.

But Darlington were frustrated that referee Mr Gibbons allowed the goal to stand, believing that their defenders had been impeded at the corner.

The turnaround was completed eight minutes later, Newton scoring again after a smart turn and finish on the edge of the penalty area, although in this instance there were question marks about Darlington’s defending.

Galbraith's attemped clearance went skywards, Phil Turnbull's tackle was half-hearted and then Galbraith's was turned by Newton.

With 17 league games played Quakers have still kept only one clean sheet – of the top 11 teams in the division, only Tamworth have conceded more goals.

Darlington made a tactical change soon after, replacing Turnbull with Dave Syers, but it was Tamworth who had the better of it and only a smart save by Jameson to deny Newton a hat-trick kept it at 2-1, the keeper blocking a shot after good work up the left by Stephen Morley.

A second change for Darlington came when Liam Hardy was sent on for Stephen Thompson, and soon Nathan Cartman was unfortunate not to score., His effort deflected over by Andrew Burns flinging himself at the ball, Darlington’s striker having been quickest to react after Josh Gillies crossed following a run down the right.

With Darlington throwing men forward, Tamworth had a few counterattacks and could have scored a third goal. Dyer hit the bar, and Jameson saved at Mills’ feet.

Quakers built some pressure in the closing stages. Marrs’ weak shot was caught easily by the Tamworth keeper James Belshaw, and substitute Tom Davie’s weak shot trickled wide.

In the final minute of injury time Belshaw got down low to tip wide a Syers shot, and Kevin Burgess headed over from the resulting corner which saw Jameson race forward into the penalty area.

Darlington remain second, now four points behind leaders Fylde who visit Heritage Park next Saturday, but Gary Brown will be suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season today.

Goals: Galbraith pen (2, 0-2); Newton (49, 1-1), Newton (57, 2-1)

Bookings: Lane (1, foul); Brown (38, handball), Syers (73, dissent); Tomassen (90, foul)

Referee: P Gibbons

Attendance: 914

Tamworth (4-2-3-1): Belshaw; Burns, Jones, Lane, Morley; Clarke, Deeney; Dyer, Mills (Tomassen 90), Taylor (Davies 66); Newton. Subs (not used): Opoku, Pace, Briscoe

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Marrs, Brown, Burgess, Galbraith; Thompson (Hardy 74), Turnbull (Syers 60), Falkingham, Gillies; Beck, Cartman (Davie 79). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Watson