Over the 90 minutes the Quakers deserved their win, playing the better football on a poor pitch passed fit just before the start of the game.

Although Carlisle had the better chances, Darlington's decisive finishing proved the match-winner, to give them their first away win since September.

Carlisle manager Roddy Collins said after the game: "I was disappointed to concede from three set pieces.

"We had eliminated that from our early season form and it was criminal to let it creep back in.

"We worked really hard and matched them physically, but I just thought mentally we switched off.

"Maybe one or two players thought we have achieved something in the last month, but that was a lesson for them tonight.

"We'll get back and sort out the basics, you can't switch off and lose concentration and we did. We stood off players and Conlon destroyed us on his own."

Darlington got off to a flying start, opening the scoring with only 57 seconds gone.

Paul Heckingbottom's left wing cross fell to Mark Ford on the edge of the box and the diminutive striker dispatched a spectacular left foot shot into the bottom corner.

The goal stunned the Cumbrians into action with Mark Winstanley sending a header narrowly wide.

Stuart Green then had a 25-yard effort turned over the bar by Keith Finch, before Darlington almost grabbed a second when Adam Rundle shot wide from a good position.

With Carlisle's possession increasing, Lee Andrews' effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Finch and Darlington's young keeper then saved from Foran.

Carlisle found themselves unable to relax at the back as Barry Conlon's long range effort whistled narrowly wide.

Carlisle got the equaliser deep into first half injury time when Gary Pearson bundled Foran over in the box and Carlisle's top scorer got up to dispatch his 10th League goal of the season, sending Finch the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Three minutes into the second half Craig Liddle saved a certain Green goal managing to get his head to the shot to deflect for a corner.

Darlington regained the lead with 52 minutes gone when Clark turned on a Betts' long throw to shoot into the roof of the net. The game was put beyond doubt on 83 minutes when a Neil Madison free kick was headed home by Liddle.

Halliday hit a post with three minutes remaining, but Darlington hung on for a deserved victory leaving Carlisle's best crowd of the season witnessing the Cumbrians' first defeat in six games.

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