The Swans arrived at Feethams protecting a four-game unbeaten run and included Nick Cusack who was Darlington’s record buy when he joined them from Motherwell for £100,000 in early 1992.

Swansea won the first corner after three minutes. Richie Appleby whipped the kick into the middle but the ball was cleared.

The home side then saw their own first corner collected by Roger Freestone.

Darlington had a half chance after six minutes when Michael Oliver crossed from the left but Steve Tutill headed just over.

Swansea won a free-kick on eight minutes when Steve Watkin was fouled outside the area but Matthew Bound’s shot was charged down.

It was then the home side’s turn to line up a promising free-kick after a foul on Marco Gabbiadini 25 yards out. Freestone, however, easily saved a left-footed effort from Atkinson. Darlington forced a corner on 17 minutes and it was floated to the far post for Oliver to head down to Tutill whose shot was blocked by Smith. When the ball span back into the middle Freestone easily saved from Devos.

Swansea had a chance on 20 minutes with a right wing corner. The ball fell to Jason Smith on the edge of the area, but his right foot shot went well wide.

Darlington had a couple of chances on the half hour but again the Swansea defence held firm.

First, Gabbiadini beat two defenders in a dribble from the left but saw his shot blocked 12 yards out, then in a goalmouth scramble Naylor had a powerful drive blocked by Smith.

The Swans took the lead against the run of play after 34 minutes. Michael Howard curled in a free-kick from the right into the six-yard box where Steve WATKIN glanced a delicate header beyond keeper Preece for his fifth goal of the season.

The home side tried to hit back immediately but a dangerous cross from Gabbiadini was headed into Freestone’s hands by Reed from an acute angle.

Swansea nearly went 2-0 ahead when a three-man move ended with Martin Thomas putting in a powerful shot which Preece palmed away from his six-yard line.

The Swans claimed that they should have had a second goal in first half stoppage time. Appleby curled in a free-kick for Watkin to meet at the far post and head against the bar, the striker claiming that the bail had bounced over the line before Liddle cleared. The assistant referee looked to be in a perfect position to wave play on, however, but Cusack immediately protested to the referee when the half-time whistle sounded.

Half-time: Darlington 0 v 1 Swansea City

A minute after the re-start Darlington’s Barnard crossed for Naylor to hit a shot which was deflected wide. A Gabbiadini shot was then cleared off the line by Thomas.

Swansea nearly made it 2-0 after 58 minutes but Watkin’s 25-yard effort dipped over.

The home side had penalty claims turned down when Freestone punched a cross to Atkinson who stumbled in a challenge with Smith.

Swansea’s defence was finally breached on 73 minutes. Atkinson slotted a left wing corner in to Shutt at the far post, he turned the ball into the six yard box where REED forced home through a crowd of players.

Swansea nearly went behind when Shutt opened up the defence with a 30-yard pass only for for Barnard to hit the bar. Swansea regained the lead after a clearance by Bound was flicked on by Alsop for PRICE to collect, side-step Preece and tap into an empty net.

But a minute into stoppage time Darlington levelled, when sub Roberts crossed from the left, for SHUTT to charge in and head past Freestone.