STEPHEN THOMPSON scored in injury time to complete his hat-trick as Darlington grabbed a dramatic and crucial winner at Leamington.

They trailed 2-1 going into the closing stages against another team fighting against relegation, and facing the prospect of losing to a team that had a man sent off before half-time.

But, with sub James Caton playing a key role, Quakers fought back to secure three crucial points, Darlington’s first away win since the opening day of the season lifting the team two places to 17th.

Thompson’s winner came after a storming up the run by Caton, who enjoyed his best performance of the season, hopefully an indication of what’s to come from the play-maker.

He started the afternoon on the bench, manager Tommy Wright using 3-5-2 with debutant Ben O’Hanlon starting at left wingback.

An eventful game saw Darlington take the lead after just nine minutes, Stephen Thompson with a penalty into bottom corner of the net after Reece Styche had been pushed when attempting to meet a Greg Mills pass.

Thompson sending Tony Breeden from the spot, Darlington take the lead for the 13th time this season.

However, they have a propensity to conceded equalisers, and Leamington levelled with a spot-kick of their own on 18 minutes.

It came after Gary Brown, who minutes earlier believed he had been fouled by Jack Edwards leading to a confrontation between the pair, was adjudged to have fouled Ahmed Obeng.

While Aynsley Pears got a hand to Callum Gittings’ effort, the teenage goalkeeper could not quite keep out the spot-kick.

The 3-5-2 shape lasted only until the 32nd minute when Brown was substituted and replaced by midfielder Dave Syers, Quakers switching to 4-4-2.

Clear chances were sparse, but Quakers did go close when Styche put a header on the roof of the net after meeting a Mills corner.

Pears then palmed the ball away, keeping Quakers level by keeping out a shot by Kieran Dunbar after Darlington could not deal with a Leamington free-kick. After Darlington cleared, Styche tried an optimistic shot from halfway, but goalkeeper Breeden dealt with the hopeful effort.

Leamington ended the half down to ten men Joe Clarke was dismissed. The former Darlington midfielder, already booked in the 27th minute for a foul, saw red when he tripped Syers.

Leamington almost went ahead, however, in added on time when Edwards blasted a low shot that had Pears worried but hit the advertising hoarding behind his goal.

The first sight of goal of the second half saw Styche head over after a precise Mills cross from the left, a good chance one that the striker would have been expected to take.

Darlington, playing against ten, enjoyed a good start to the second period with little reward. Syers flashed the ball across goal after making a well-timed run, meeting Terry Galbraith’s ball over the top, but the cross was to nobody.

And then O’Hanlon shot weakly from the edge of the area after a run that involved a penetrating run down the right by Trotman, who enjoyed good game.

Another sight of goal went begging when a Mills free-kick from deep was inches away from Josh Heaton’s head.

Darlington on top against the ten men and looked most likely to score the next goal, yet it was Leamington who took the lead on the hour.

It came after a great save by Pears to keep it at 1-1, a simple long punt from the Leamington keeper resulting in Daniel Udoh getting a shot in, Pears pushing it away for a corner from which came a goal.

Edwards rose highest to head home powerfully, the ten men going ahead with half an hour to play.

Wright took swift action, making a double substitution, Mills and Leon Scott withdrawn and replaced by Phil Turnbull and Caton, the latter soon getting a shot in.

It was from around 16 yards and saved by Breeden and probably too central to trouble the keeper, but the Darlington sub did well to find a yard of space to try the effort.

Gittings escaped with a telling off despite tripping Joe Wheatley just outside the penalty area, from the resulting free-kick Galbraith’s shot was over the bar.

Darlington having the bulk of possession, and just when the latter stages were approaching, when it might have appeared there would be no reward for Darlington’s endeavours, Thompson equalised with his second goal of the game.

He made it 2-2 on 73 minutes after dribbling into the penalty area and finishing smartly, though the shot may have taken a deflection.

With Leamington a little higher up the table and down to ten men, a point for them would have been a good result, while Darlington’s desire for all three was clear as the game reached the dying moments, the visitors piling forward and creating number chances.

The next one started when Caton did really well to shoulder-barge Edwards off the ball near halfway and deliver a perfect pass over the top into Syers’ feet. He was one-on-one but Breeden saved, keeping it 2-2.

Caton, who looked fired up and eager to make an impression, was soon involved again, latching on to Turnbull’s low pass into the area, but the resulting pass was just behind Styche, and then another opportunity went begging, Syers turning in the area but shooting wide.

A good touch by Wheatley, hooking the ball over a defender, gave Caton a chance and dropped a shoulder but his 20-yard shot was wide.

“Leamington are hanging on,” said a local radio commentator in the press box as four added minutes were indicated.

In the first of them Darlington got the winner, Thompson completing his hat-trick, sweeping home first-time, but a lot of credit must got to Caton. He steamed up the left and sent over the perfect cross.

The win lifts the gloom and means Quakers go into next week’s home match with Blyth Spartans in higher spirits.

Goals: Thompson pen (9, 0-1); Gittings pen (18, 1-1), Edwards (60, 2-1); Thompson (73, 2-2), Thompson (90, 2-3)

Bookings: Clarke (27, foul), (41, foul)

Sending off: Clarke (41, second bookable offence)

Referee: Steven Copeland

Leamington (4-1-3-2): Breeden; Mace, Hood, English, Gudger; Clarke; Dunbar, Gittings, Obeng; Edwards (Revan 85), Udoh (Magunda 80). Subs (not used): Felix, Canavan, Moore

Darlington (3-5-2): Pears; Heaton, Brown (Syers 32), Galbraith; Trotman, Wheatley, Scott (Caton 62), O’Hanlon; Thompson; Mills (Turnbull 62), Styche. Subs (not used): Bancroft (gk), Gillies