SIXTY-SIX exciting seconds is all it took to turn weeks of disappointing away days into Darlington delight.

That’s how much time elapsed between Darlington turning a 1-0 deficit into a dramatic 2-1 win, two late goals at Alfreton sparking jubilation after the club’s first league away win since April.

Alun Armstrong led the way as those in Darlington’s dugout spilled onto the pitch to celebrate the triumphant turnaround, a marked contrast to half-time when in response to a lacklustre first 45 minutes he had given the players, in his words, a bollocking.

Because for all the emphasis placed on tactics, formations and fitness, sometimes giving footballers a bit of earache can do the trick.

It did not work for Alfreton’s manager, Billy Heath’s bellowing providing an ear-shattering backdrop at the Impact Arena, and it is not an approach Armstrong usually utilises.

But it elicited a response as his brusque words of wisdom at the break combined with a few tactical tweaks and the players’ own determination had the desired effect, the second half being a major improvement and Quakers deserved the three points courtesy of goals by Tyrone O’Neill and Justin Donawa.

Alfreton had taken a third-minute lead, Conor Branson heading in after he had been given space to meet a right-wing cross.

“We gave them a good bollocking at half-time, even though I didn’t think Alfreton were giving us any problems,” said Armstrong, who gave a debut to new signing Alex Storey in the centre of defence.

“We did loads of work on Tuesday and Thursday about how they would play, how they would put balls into the box but within three minutes it’s out of the window.

“You could see the confidence drain out of the lads straight away. It came from a lapse of concentration.

“It was the first time I have questioned them. ‘Are you working as hard as Alfreton are working’ I asked them. It was the first time I’d had to do that because I didn’t think they were in the first half, they had gone into their shells a bit after conceding that goal.

“I know I’ve got good characters in there, but the last thing you want to be asking is are you working hard enough, especially if you’re playing for my team.

“I’ll not have lads in my team who are not working hard. But they turned it around and full credit to them.

“They shouldn’t need a bollocking at half-time, they should start the match like they did the second half, but conceding that goal killed them because we’d done so much work on stopping them.”

Alfreton, fifth in the table on Saturday morning and unbeaten at home this season, looked comfortable while leading for most the first 45 minutes with Darlington posing no danger at all.

Then Armstrong and assistant Darren Holloways said their piece and within seconds of the restart the ever-eager Omar Holness fired a shot well over.

Off-target by a distance, but it was a signal of intent, an improvement on the first half and proved to be the first of a barrage of attacks as a rejuvenated Quakers took control.

As well as his harsh words, Armstrong’s two substitutions had a major impact too with Jarrett Rivers, not in the starting XI for the first time, won a corner with his first touch from which Stephen Thompson had a header cleared off the line, and the pacey Donawa entered the fray too.

Adam Campbell wasted a great chance, rounding Andrew but dallying and being tackled, Thompson shot over and Donawa headed wide.

“We’ve got to get hold of the midfield!” barked Heath at his beleaguered team, who were left stunned by Darlington’s double salvo on 85 and 86 minutes.

Joe Wheatley’s free-kick was parried by Andrew, Campbell picked up the loose ball and crossed for O’Neill to head in on the goal-line, and 66 seconds later it was 2-1 when Andrew was punished for pushing O’Neill’s shot into Donawa’s path and the substitute made no mistake.

Armstrong added: “You want to get that monkey off your back, your first league away win, and I didn’t think we deserved to be 1-0 behind.

“The second half, we could’ve scored four or five and nobody could’ve argued.”

Victory followed last week’s win at Trafford in the FA Cup and has ratcheted up the sense of momentum ahead of this weekend’s trip to Leamington when Quakers aim to make it a hat-trick of wins on the road.

Play like they did in the second half and there’s every chance Armstrong’s men will make it into the fourth qualifying round of the Cup.