DARLINGTON won an FA Cup tie for the first time since 2014 by overcoming Trafford 3-1 in today’s second qualifying round.

Not since beating West Auckland at Heritage Park after a replay five years ago had Quakers won in the FA Cup having lost in the past four seasons to Hyde United, Lancaster City, South Shields and Bradford Park Avenue.

They led 1-0 at half-time through Stephen Thompson’s 98th goal for the club and despite Trafford equalising Quakers soon retook the lead and never looked in danger.

The opposition, from two divisions below, were second-best for much of the afternoon at Shaw View as Alun Armstrong’s men secured their first away win of the season.

His team was on top for the bulk of the game, with centre-back pairing Terry Galbraith and Jordan Watson snuffing out anything Trafford had to offer, though during the first half Quakers did not create much for all their possession.

They finally took the lead on 38 minutes, Thompson heading in after getting on the end of an Adam Campbell cross from the right.

Quakers were cruising without impressing hugely, but they were suddenly pegged back when Trafford levelled on 65 minutes against the run of play.

Substitute Darius Palma, who had just come off the bench, smashed home from inside the penalty area after Darlington failed to deal with a right-wing cross.

But Darlington were able to breathe a sigh of relief as they soon retook the lead, Campbell pouncing to ram the ball home after Trafford’s goalkeeper had parried Thompson’s free-kick.

Trafford made a go of it as they sought an equaliser, but Quakers goalkeeper Chris Elliott was not unduly tested and the tie was sealed with two minutes to go when two substitutes, Omar Holness and Justin Donawa, combined.

Thompson passed up the left to Holness and he floated a cross high to far post where Donawa headed high into the net for his first goal for the club.

Today’s win is worth £6,750 to Darlington and the draw for the third qualifying round is on Monday, with the tie taking place on Saturday, October 5.

Trafford: Cooper, Kenny, Amado, Baird, Egerton, O’Brien, Mustapha, Davidson, Salmon, Rydings, Grimshaw. Subs: Palma, Palmer, Rooney, Gabidon, Schofield, Miller, Johnson

Darlington: Elliott, Hedley, Watson, Galbraith, Liddle; Rivers, Wheatley (Bascome 90), Hatfield, Thompson (Holness 80); O’Neill, Campbell. Subs (not used): Bell, Holliday, Morrison, Stansfield

Referee: N Cox