Miller's late strike is cruel on Rochdale

Darlington had been served a cruel blow when, after dominating for almost 70 minutes and leading through a superb strike from on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder Jason Kennedy, they were pegged back in the most unfortunate circumstances.

Chris Dagnall's powerful drive took a deflection to beat Darlington goalkeeper David Stockdale to turn this semi-final on its head.

But Miller restored the home side's advantage from Neil Wainwright's late free-kick.

Rochdale striker Lee Thorpe spent part of yesterday in Darlington Infirmary after breaking his arm in an arm-wrestling contest on the team bus as it headed north. He was already doubtful with a dead leg but the disruption did not help the visitors.

Darlington were deservedly ahead by the half-hour mark, and it was a goal that would have graces any occasion, not least a League Two play-off.

Kennedy, at 21, is still struggling to make his mark at Middlesbrough, yet his goal for his loan club caught everyone's eye.

Ben Parker flicked a neat ball down the left to Kennedy, who produced a superb first touch to deceive Rory McArdle. From there, the central midfielder took aim, and curled a delightful, rightfoot shot beyond goalkeeper Tommy Lee.

It said everything that Lee did not move. Before the goal his contribution had been huge but even he knew the moment he had been beaten.

Twice he had produced superb saves to keep Darlington at bay.

In only the seventh minute he stood up well and saved with his outstretched right leg after Scott Wiseman had beaten three men.

Four minutes later he again stood tall and did well to parry Micky Cummins's close-range drive.

It was easy to forget that Dave Penney's Darlington side had won only one of their last nine games before yesterday's play-off.

Their only first-half problem came in the first half, and that was of their own doing. Alan White was caught in possession by Dagnall, who burst clear before curling a shot from 20 yards that crashed of the bar with Stockdale beaten.

Stockdale did concede after 69 minutes, but it was cruel blow in a game Darlington dominated.

Dagnall had always looked the likely source of an equaliser. In the 54th minute he drilled a shot wide and then, with Penney's side envisaging a deserved lead in the second leg next Saturday, he struck the equaliser.

His shot from 25 yards, however, took a huge deflection to beat Stockdale.

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Stockdale; Wiseman, White (Miller 87min), Foster, Parker (Ndumbu-Nsungu 79); Joachim, Kennedy, Ravenhill, Purdie; Cummins, Wright (Wainwright 64). Subs (not used): Kazimierczak, Keltie.

ROCHDALE (4-4-2): Lee; Ramsden, D'Laryea (Holness 66), McArdle, Kennedy; Higginbotham, Perkins, Jones, Rundle (Muirhead 74); Howe, Dagnall (Le Fondre 82). Subs (not used):Thompson, Basham. Booked: Jones.

Referee: P Armstrong (Berkshire).