Darlington 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 November 14 1960 Football League Cup Round Three.

A 2-1 home defeat, even by giants from the First Division like Bolton, may be a surprise inclusion in a nine-part series celebrating the history of Darlington Football Club.

But this rain-soaked Monday night game drew the highest crowd in Darlington's 120 years: 21,023 crammed into Feethams.

Darlington finished the 1960-61 season in a respectable seventh place in Division Four, but they were known that year as a cup side. In the FA Cup, four replays were required before they were knocked out by Hull City: the second replay was at Elland Road when, at 1-1, the game was abandoned in extra time; the third replay was at Doncaster's Belle Vue and finished goalless after extra time; the fourth replay was at Ayresome Park where 19,366 saw the Quakers lose 3-0.

In the first round of the League Cup, 9,940 at Feethams saw Crystal Palace beaten 2-0. Next up were West Ham, who were beaten 3-2 in front of 17,057.

And then came Bolton, Cup winners two years earlier and fielding five internationals, including the legendary Nat Lofthouse.

But the Quakers had little Joe Rayment who, in the 16th minute, "sent home a rocketing, hooked shot, on the turn and from the edge of the penalty area, lifting the back of the net and with it the hopes of the delirious fans".

After half-time, the home side remained on top. "Rain sheeted down in the second half, the ground cut up, the ball was greasy, and Darlington wallowed in the conditions," said the Echo.

The tide turned in the 69th with a "lucky goal" from a 35-yard free kick from Ray Hartle. "The ball slithered through the hands of the groping goalkeeper (Colin Tinsley) down by the foot of an upright."

Even in the last 20 minutes, the Quakers were the better side, but in the 89th minute Fred Hill, Bolton's left-winger, "slipped through a beautiful pass for Doug Holden to run on to, elude the goalkeeper, and calmly shoot into an empty net".

Concluded the Echo: "Defeat was a bitter blow for the Darlington defenders who had out-matched Bolton's formidable forwards. They were at their greatest with Ken Furphy and Ron Greener in starring roles."

Darlington: Colin Tinsley, Brian Henderson, George Mulholland, Ken Furphy, Ron Greener, Ray Spencer, Joe Rayment, Jim Milner, Lance Robson, Bobby Baxter, Keith Morton.

Read more about the Quakers here.