Darlington lost their unbeaten home record and fell to fourth in the table thanks to Jemal Johnson's late winner in Saturday's crunch clash at the Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena.

Having been held at home by fellow promotion-chasers Rotherham on Boxing Day, Quakers needed a win to stop MK from pulling away at the top of League Two.

But Johnson's goal, scored in the 84th minute after a counter-attack, means MK are now 11 points ahead of Dave Penney's side, although Darlington do have two games in hand.

The result meant Paul Ince's side completed a league double over Quakers having also taken the three points when the teams met earlier this season, a game which was also won thanks to a late goal.

On that day however, MK Dons had held much more possession and felt worthy winners. But on Saturday it was Darlington who created the best chances, especially after the break.

The first 45 minutes was a tight affair with side giving the opposition keeper much to think about, the only chances seeing Quakers' Ian Miller head over the bar and Clark Keltie side-foot towards keeper Willy Gueret.

Miller was in the team as captain Steve Foster was ill, while Richie Foran missed out due to a hip injury sustained on Boxing Day.

Foran's place on the left was taken by Rob Purdie, who switched from right-back, a position occupied by Neil Austin, and it was Purdie who forced Gueret into making a fine save midway through the second half. His fierce volley was parried by Gueret and the rebound fell to Pawel Abbott however, he put the resulting shot wide when he seemed all set to open the scoring.

By that stage Quakers' Tommy Wright had seen an instinctive close-range effort, from a long Lee Ridley throw, tipped away by Gueret and the visitors' first chance of the second half did not come until the 80th minute.

Sub Jude Stirling raced away from Miller but Alan White, captain in Foster's absence, did not enough to nip the danger in the bud.

However, with Darlington clearly determined to try and produce a winner, just four minutes later another quick break resulted in Johnson's goal. Stirling had a hand in it, taking the ball up the right before Johnson, on loan with Quakers in 2005/06, received the ball on the left side of Quakers' penalty area from where he beat Stockdale with a shot through Austin's legs.

Darlington: Stockdale; Austin, Miller, White, Ridley; Joachim, Keltie, Cummins, Purdie; Wright, Abbott. Subs: Oakes, Brackstone, Smith, Blundell