The afternoon did not start well as Darlington started brightly opening the scoring as Sam Hetherington found space to finish well in the tenth minute. It was two-nil just after the half hour as Maskell got free of the defence, whilst the Referee missed a clear elbow by the same player, before he stroked the ball into the far corner.

Brackley had the better of the last fifteen minutes of the first half and were back in touching distance in the thirty sixth minute, Justin Donawa launching a huge throw towards the far post where Matt Lowe out-muscled his man to head home.

Half time Darlington 1 Brackley Town 2

An energised Saints came out for the second half and were level within five minutes of the restart, Donawa again finding distance with a throw, Matt Lowe acrobatically finding the net with an outstanding overhead kick.

Brackley extended their lead three minutes later as Pollock found space in midfield and laid a ball on a plate for Donawa who had made a 40 yard run to find the far corner.

The comeback was complete as Gaz Dean met a Morgan Roberts with a determined effort to ensure the win.

Lowe will feel with a couple of openings that a hat-trick was on the cards, and whilst this was not to be, Brackley travelled back to Northants with a fantastic win, three points and second place in tonight’s table, level with Chester and a game in hand.

MOM: Justin Donawa

Attendance 1416

Darlington : Jameson, Hedley, Barrow, Platt (Flint), Lees, Forbes, Hatfield (Cornish), Maskell, Main (Nelson), Kelly, Hetherington (Bakre). Sub not used : Stirland.

Brackley Town : Maxted, Carline, Dean, Roberts (O,Sullivan), Lowe, Pollock, Lyttle, Donawa, Lilly, Byrne (Bates), Hall (Newton). Subs not used : Calder, Okafor.

Referee : Kevan Hurn.