After what had been a goalless and well-contested first half, it was still 0-0 at the break, though each team had its chances.

Graeme Armstrong stuck the bar for Quakers when he chipped the goalkeeper early on, and was also narrowly off-target with a volley after Amar Purewal’s knock-down.

Clitheroe forward Jason Hart caused problems throughout and midway through the first half he was through one-on-one, but keeper Peter Jameson saved at his feet.

In the second half Hart came even close to scoring by hitting the woodwork, curling the ball towards goal from the corner of the penalty area.

It would have been a lovely goal to give Clitheroe the lead, but it was Darlington who went 1-0 up just after the hour thanks to a close-range header on the hour by substitute Terry Galbraith after meeting Adam Mitchell’s cross.

Galbraith came on at the break for debutant Josh Nearney, who started at right-back after joining on loan yesterday from Hartlepool United.

As the game approached its closing stages, the points looked safe for Martin Gray’s team, especially after Clitheroe’s Daniel Wilkins was red-carded for elbowing Ian Watson with ten minutes to go.

With both players looking skywards at the ball, Wilkins collided with Watson, who stayed grounded for almost the length of time it took referee Lindsey Robinson to consult a linesman before flashing a red card.

But in the 91st minute the visitors attacked down the right and worked the ball to striker Gonzales to tap-in.

There was still time for Quakers’ Stephen Thompson to go down in the penalty area after a crude challenge, but Robinson infuriated Gray by awarding a corner.

Despite the disappointing result, Quakers stay top of the table.

Their next game is next Saturday against Lancaster City at Heritage Park.

Clitheroe player-manager Simon Garner, who played in midfield, was delighted with his team.

He said: “Over 90 minutes we were the better team. The lads gave me everything, they were brilliant.

“It was hard. Darlington have got a great crowd, they’ve got players. We rode our luck for the first five minutes, maybe more, but in the first half we created chances.

“We didn’t score by half-time and I was thinking that you’ve got to score when you’re on top, they’re going to have a period in the game.

“We played well in the second half. We didn’t create as much, but they weren’t opening us up. They scored from a set-piece, which was really disappointing.

“A lot of teams can fold when they come here and go 1-0 down, because the team and the crowd and we were playing on a heavy pitch.

“We’ve even gone down to ten men and gone on and created chances. We got a goal right at the death and we deserved it.

“They’ll have highlights on their website which you’ll be able to see. We thoroughly deserved it and I’m really proud of the lads.”

Goals: Galbraith (63, 1-0); Gonzales (90, 1-1)

Bookings: Garner (66, foul), Lynch (80, dissent); Thompson (82, time wasting)

Sending-off: Wilkins (80, violent conduct)

Referee: Lindsey Robinson

Attendance: 1,023

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Nearney (Galbraith 46), Brown, Hunter, Watson; Mitchell, Scott, Portas, Thompson; Purewal, Armstrong (Dowson 59). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Young, Cocks

Clitheroe (4-4-2): Dawber; Morton, Bonaminio, Esdaille, Walker; Wilkins, Garner, Lynch, Burns (Dent 85); Gonzales, Hart. Subs (not used): Palffy, Bamba, Ralph, Mercer