The clash of the titans was expected to be a close encounter and it provided just that. One shot and one goal gifted Paul Ince's Dons an undeserved victory courtesy of former Quaker Jemal Johnson's late strike just inside the post. The kidology adopted by the Dons looked to have secured them an unlikely point and had the Quakers only been that bit more clinical in front of goal this game would have been sewn up long before Johnson struck the winner.

An energetic first twenty minutes raised hopes that Darlington, playing some delightful football, would be able to overcome the tricky conditions following a late morning/early afternoon downpour over the Arena. The height and power within the Dons' line up erected fears of a similar scenario to that of the reverse tie where Jude Sterling, only sub today, relentlessly hurled long throws into the Darlington danger area from which Drissa Diallo grabbed a heartbreaking late winner. Dave Penney and his men had other ideas it seemed on this occasion.

Possession was seldom utilised in the very early stages, both sides adjusting to the cutting up surface, until Clark Keltie, who impressed and disappointed in equal measures in the opening period with mouth-watering vision and often careless concession of possession, unleashed a ferocious low drive reminiscent of his Lincoln penalty that was saved well low to Willy Gueret's left after just ten minutes.

Keltie's effort was the result of the first of a quick fire series of splintering attacks from the hosts, the tireless workmanlike mentality running through the black and whites spurring the Qaukers on. Joachim and the imperious Tommy Wright combined to steal the ball from Dean Lewington on the quarter hour, Keltie meticulously sprayed possession wide to Purdie who forced an awkward tip around the upright from Gueret.
Ian Miller, making only his fourth league start and coincidentally his second versus Paul Ince's Dons in place of flu-ridden Steve Foster, came just about closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half leaping like a sky scraper to meet Keltie's corner but the towering Ipswich youngster couldn't get his powerful header down.

Just prior to the thirty minute mark Alan White claimed a disastrous booking which rule shim out of the Bury match. White was a tad unlucky after his strong but fair challenge on Colin Cameron was adjudged to be his second foul of the day which he was duly carded for. However, this provided the catalyst to a couple of breaks in play which took the sting out of Darlington and allowed MK a reprieve. An opportunity they took with both hands using force to quell the pressure being provided by the hosts, particularly on the impressive Joachim who was being bullied out of the game by the brutal Dons.

But the second half concocted a reversal and the shaky Willy Gueret was the only reason the scores remained deadlocked with an hour played. After mistiming Stockdale's boot forward the former Swansea stopper fumbled in a crowded penalty area and had to be rescued by some desperate last gasp defending, but the onslaught that followed was all about Dons' galovesman.

After fending away two near post efforts he miraculously tipped Abbott's acute effort round the post and was shortly after responsible for denying the Quakers a deserved lead, acrobatically blocking efforts from Joachim and Keltie, bravely punching Purdie's inswinging corner and tipping Tommy Wright's thunderbolt away from goal which the on-fire Micky Cummins somehow failed to divert it the half unguarded net.

For a side competing for the division's top spot MK were not terribly convincing from a footballing perceptive, in fact were often somewhat petty but they showed a similar resolve and grit that has been the foundation of Darlington's rise to the top. With just under ten minutes remaining Ian Miller was booked for allegedly diving in the area and up the other end former Quaker Jemal Johnson fired in low and Stockdale's hand was not enough to stop it going in at the front post.

The attack looked dangerous and Darlington seemed outnumbered throughout its progression but still a bitter pill to swallow bearing in mind the division's supposed top dogs came here today with little intention of grabbing anything other than a goalless draw. Two wasteful free kicks in the dying moments cemented Darlington's fate as MK ground out three points today they didn't really deserve, exactly what Dave Penney has managed to do himself numerous times this season. A first home league defeat of the season buts its hard not leave the Arena with a horrible taste in the mouth of being well and truly robbed of a deserved win, let alone share of the spoils.

Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Miller, Ridley (Martin Smith 88), Joachim, Keltie, Cummins, Purdie, Abbott (Blundell 75), Wright. Subs: Oakes, Ravenhill, Brackstone, Martin Smith, Blundell.

Milton Keynes Dons: Gueret, Howell, Diallo, Swailes, Lewington, Andrews, Navarro, Cameron (Johnson 64), Dyer (Hadfield 88), Broughton (Stirling 64), Wright. Subs: Abbey, Carbon, Johnson, Hadfield, Stirling.

Darlington bookings: Purdie, White, Miller.

MK Dons bookings: Navarro, Andrews, Swailes, Wright.

Goals: Johnson 84th min (0-1).