Bedford 3 Darlington 4

Barton og 6 mins, 1-0, McGowan 12 mins 1-1, Howells 14 mins, 1-2, Godden 67 mins 2-2, Brown 84 mins, 3-2, Main 87 mins 3-3 Allan 90+3 4-3

Darlington stretched their unbeaten run to six matches thanks to a late header by substitute Tom Allan.

After going an early goal down, Quakers hit back with efforts by Will McGowan and Max Howells, and missed some good chances as well as having a penalty turned down before half time.

But after the break, Toby Lees was shown his second yellow and so Quakers had to play out the rest of the game with ten men, and Bedford took advantage, scoring twice, but there was a question mark over their third. However, Cedric Main deservedly grabbed a point for Quakers with an 88th minute penalty, but then sub Tom Allan headed a sensational winner in the second minute of stoppage time which prompted a mass celebration involving all the Darlington players -- even Pete Jameson joined in. 

Quakers have now won five and drawn one of their last six league matches to climb up to fourth in the table. They've scored 20 goals in those six matches.

Here are the goals:

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/check-the-goals-from-the-bedford-game

And Steve's thoughts

https://darlingtonfc.co.uk/news/steve-our-togetherness-and-spirit-were-superb

Bedford took the lead on 6 minutes, Josh Phillips broke down the right, whipped in a low cross, that came off Tye Barton and went into the net.

Quakers nearly levelled on 10 minutes when Charlie Lennon fired the ball into the near post, and Will McGowan’s flick was held by Nathan Ashmore on his line.

Quakers won their first corner on 12 minutes and scored from it. Nobody picked up Lennon when he ran short, so McGowan exchanged passes with him, ran into the box and hit a left shot that beat Ashmore all ends up, his eighth goal of the season.

They went 2-1 up on 14 minutes. Quakers broke quickly out of defence and Cedric Main fed the ball through for Aidan Rutledge, who had two shots blocked, but Max Howells was backing up and fired the ball home, his fourth of the season.

And Ben Hedley nearly scored another, with a right foot shot that the keeper just managed to tip around the post.

McGowan then led another break and he found Lennon on the left, but the midfielder’s attempted curler was held by Ashmore.

A long throw by Rutledge from the right was flicked on by Lees, and Main couldn’t quite get enough direction on his header.

Bedford won a free kick on the edge of the Darlington area for a foul, but the wall blocked Tyrone Marsh’s effort.

More trickery by Lennon won Quakers another corner on the left, but Lees headed the ball wide.

Howells got back well to concede a corner at the other end on 32 minutes, and Bedford almost scored, with a half volley by Greg Taylor – once of Darlo – that went over the top.

Quakers created another chance on 36 minutes when McLaughlin found Lennon on the left, and he crossed into the middle where Rutledge headed just over.

Quakers were then denied a penalty when Main seemed to be pushed as he went for a McGowan cross, but the ref waved their appeals away.

Quakers were opened up though on 40 minutes when Marsh found Phillips running through, but Jameson saved at his feet, then Bedford were quickly back into the visiting box and Marsh fired wide from about twelve yards.

McGowan though had another chance when he won possession on the edge of the Bedford box and hit a left foot shot that went just over.

Half time Bedford 1 Darlington 2

It was nearly 3-1 at the start of the second half. Again McGowan cleverly worked his way into the box and had a shot blocked, and Rutledge wrongfooted the Bedford defence but fired wide.

Bedford replied when Ellis Brown fired just over the top from the edge of the area.

Quakers were reduced to ten men on 52 minutes when Lees was dismissed for his second yellow card, so Tom Platt had to move to the back.

Bedford won a corner on 61 minutes which was swung over to the far post where a header came in from Kpekawa, but Jameson held on.

Quakers made a sub on 65 minutes, Lennon was replaced by Tom Allan, and a few minutes later Bedford equalised with a low shot from the edge of the area by debutant Jago Godden.

Howells was then replaced by Griffiths as ten man Quakers tried to regain control.

Quakers though nearly caught Bedford on the break with a long clearance by Jameson, and Ashmore came out of his goal to clear.

But Bedford went in front on 84 minutes when a left foot shot by Brown took a deflection and went past Jameson, although there seemed to be a foul on McGowan in the build up.

But ten man Quakers rolled their sleeves up for a quite dramatic finale, which brought back memories of the famous win at Salford ten years ago.

They were awarded a penalty on 87 minutes for a handball in the Bedford area, and Main confidently scored from the spot, his sixth of the season.

And in stoppage time, Sub Tom Allan headed in a right wing cross from Main for a superb winner that sparked delirium amongst the players and travelling support.

Final score: Bedford 3 Darlington 4

Jameson, Barton, Lees, Hedley, Platt, McLaughlin, Howells, Lennon, McGowan, Rutledge, Main

Subs: Griffiths, Myers-Smith, Forbes, Stanton, Cornish, Allan

Two yellow cards: Lees