Darlington set up a top of the table clash on Friday night and made up for Saturday's dramatic collapse by settling an old score with Rochdale - but again they did it the hard way.

The victory came thanks to goals from Simon Johnson and Carlos Logan either side of a Matt Clarke sending-off after conceding a converted penalty with half an hour to play.

The red card made life difficult against a side among the division's pace-setters but Darlington dug deep, continued to create chances and were rewarded for leaving two strikers on the field despite Clarke's dismissal.

With the ten men having only a one-goal lead there were some scary moments in the closing stages, but there was no repeat of Saturday's spectacular shambles when Darlington turned a 4-2 win at Chester City into a 4-4 draw in the last two minutes.

As well as atoning for Saturday, Quakers had a score to settle with Dale who inflicted last season's Boxing Day massacre - a 3-0 defeat. Joey Hutchinson also suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury at Spotland that kept him out of action for nine months.

That injury came following a clash with Dale's Grant Holt and the pair were reunited yesterday, with the Darlington defender enjoying another tough battle against a constant thorn, although Holt did spurn a great chance in the last minute.

By that stage Quakers were already 2-1 up but there were no goals for Saturday's hat-trick hero, Akpo Sodje.

He had an early chance to make it a Bank Holiday bonanza after Neil Wainwright won the ball in midfield. Sodje collected possession and made space for himself but blasted over the bar.

After being in the spotlight during his first two games Bert Bossu was under some pressure to perform and he passed his first test of the afternoon - just.

Following Rochdale's first corner Tommy Jasczczun hit a powerful left footed shot from the edge of the Darlington penalty area which the Quakers keeper gathered at the second attempt.

Rochdale kept possession and passed it around well, but they created few clear chances. His only shot of the first half was a weak off target effort while Sodje also came close with a header from David Duke's long throw.

Right-back Duke came into the side for his first start as a direct replacement for the injured Shelton Martis (back) and it was through the full-back on the opposite flank which came the breakthrough.

Ten minutes before the break Ryan Valentine made a surging run and although his one-two with Sodje was almost cut-out by Dale keeper Mathew Gilks on the edge of the area, the keeper's kick deflected off Valentine into Johnson's path and he rolled the ball into an empty net.

The goal was just about deserved as Darlington had been the more dangerous in attack and although Dale felt harshly done to, Neil Wainwright had a glorious opportunity to make it two in injury time but he lashed high and wide in the same wild style as he did at Hartlepool last week, except on this occasion the attempt was on his stronger foot.

Apart from a Sodje header which Gilks misjudged, only to fortunately see it bounce wide, there were few chances after the re-start though Holt remained prominent.

However, it was fellow striker, Ricky Lambert, who won a 60th minute penalty after Clarke held him back ten yards out.

Holt - who else? - converted the spot-kick and Darlington immediately brought on Matty Appleby for Anthony Peacock with the substitute going into central defence.

But, with only three in midfield, gaps began to appear and there was a narrow escape when Alan Goodhall dribbled half the length of the field and cut-in but his shot was deflected wide.

Lambert also dribbled his way into a shooting opportunity as Dale maintained the momentum, then Holt squeezed past a Valentine challenge but lashed wide.

However, Quakers' bold tactic of keeping two men up front paid off ten minutes after the penalty when another piece of trickery from Logan saw the skilful winger grab a third goal of the season.

He collected position on the edge of Rochdale's area, twisted, turned and carved himself a shooting position from which he fired past Gilks for 2-1.

In just seven games Logan has already scored three goals and scouts will begin to notice if he maintains this form.

Dale desperately tried to find an equaliser but Darlington were determined not to duplicate Saturday's downfall, however, Holt should have made it 2-2 in the last minute but instead must have closed his eyes when a cross came over, the ball flying over his head instead of into the net.

Bossu passed his biggest test of the day in injury time.

Under pressure from a clutch of Rochdale attackers when defending a free-kick, Bossu used his 6ft 7" frame to pluck the ball from the air and victory was assured.

Read more about the Quakers here.