Liam Hatch struck the winner as Darlington came from behind to win.

Vale took the lead after 27 minutes when Luke Rodgers curled a free-kick into the far corner.

But their lead was short-lived, with the home side level nine minutes later when striker Franz Burgmeier fired home a free-kick of from a tight angle.

The visitors were made to pay for missed chances when Hatch headed home Adam Griffin's corner from eight yards to end Vale's unbeaten away record.

Darlington: Brown, Austin, White, Foster, Purdie, Poole (Griffin 23), Kennedy, Ravenhill (Hulbert 58), Burgmeier, Clarke (Blundell 81), Hatch.
Subs Not Used: Kazimierczak, Proudlock.

Goals: Burgmeier 38, Hatch 77.

Port Vale: Anyon, Griffith, McCombe, Prosser, Collins, Richman (Perry 87), Taiwo (Davidson 71), Howland, Dodds (Taylor 61), Richards, Rodgers.
Subs Not Used: Martin, Lawrie.

Booked: Richman, Prosser, Collins.

Goals: Rodgers 28.

Att: 3,040

Ref: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).