A stoppage time error by keeper Tommy Lee gave Darlington a narrow advantage at the half way mark of the Play off semi-final and sent the home fans into what will hopefully be premature scenes of celebration. Having fallen behind to a wonderful individual goal Keith Hill's side completely bossed the second half and having drawn level through the fit again Chris Dagnall they certainly deserved at least a draw from an entertaining encounter. 

Aided by a totally unecessary pre kick off watering of the pitch the game set off at a breakneck pace with both defences looking distinctly uneasy on the slippery surface. After just 7 minutes defender Scott Wiseman was able to waltz unchallenged through the Dale back four only for Lee to react well to keep out his angled effort. Then on 9 minutes Dagnall dispossed defender Alan White before curling in a wonderful 22 yard effort that beat goalkeeper Dave Stockdale but bounced out of the underside of the crossbar. On 11 minutes a slip by Nathan d'Laryea let in Rob Purdie who pickled out Mickey Cummins but he could only shoot straight at Lee when he should have done better.

Darlington took the lead on 29 minutes when midfielder Jason Kennedy chased onto a diagonal ball controlled and turned inside Rory McArdle in one swift movement and then curled an exquisite lob beyond the outstretched fingers of Lee from the edge of the penalty area.

The homeside were certainly troubling Dale from set pieces and Alan White headed wide from a corner on 32 minutes and just after the break leading scorer Tommy Wright was off target after a free kick was flicked on to him.

On 47 minutes Daganll completely outstripped Steve Foster but saw his left footed effort fizz across the face of goal and narrowly wide from a tight angle.

Already troubled by injuries Darlington lost Wright to injury on 63 minutes and not long after Keith Hill replaced D'Laryea with Marcus Holness.

On 70 minutes the travelling 3,000 or so Dale fans were sent into raptures as Dagnall found space to turn on the edge of the box and saw his low drive take a deflection to wrong foot Stockdale and nestle into the net.

Ben Muirhead then replaced Adam Rundle and might have scored almost immediately as from a Kallum Higginbotham corner he saw his powerful drive deflect narrowly wide off his own man, Rene Howe.

Darlington's injury woes continued as first of all Ben Parker limped off with what looked a hamstring injury and not long after, by which time Adam Le Fondre had been introduced from the bench, and then White who had been a tower of strength throughout also succumbed to what looked a thigh injury.

The visitors were right on top by now but two of Darlington's substitutes combined to give their side some breathing sapce ahead of the rematch at Spotland next Saturday. having been tripeed by Gary Jones (an offence that led to the games only yellow card) midfielder  Neil Wainwright floated in a 91st minute free kick, Tommy Lee came for it but didn't get it and defender Ian Miller looped a header into the empty net.

Still the action wasn't over and in the dying seconds Rene Howe had a great chance to bring his side level but hit a powerful drive too close to Stockdale who reacted well to tip it over the crossbar.

Despite the celebrations from the home fans on the final whistle this tie is far from over and Dale and their marvellous supporters can still dream of Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday. it will take a real team Rochdale effort but we all know what Keith hill's side are capable of.