Swansea led the league back in September and since then the South Wales side have ended the season in a mediocre mid-table position whilst Darlington finally secured their third division survival last weekend.
It would have been understandable if this game had turned into one of those end of season encounters where both sets of players appeared to have one eye on the holiday brochures.
This was a rip-roaring encounter and at the end the visitors were counting the wounded. Goalkeeper Brian Murphy hobbled off after eight minutes and top scorer Lee Trundle left the field after only 13 minutes.
Both following encounters with Darlington captain Craig Liddle, who was making his 300th appearance for the club.
Liddle doesn't take any prisoners and manager David Hodgson would no doubt know that he could have 10 more in his side next season.
Hodgson said after his side had tasted defeat in their last home game of the season: "There were players out there who should have been trying their hardest to secure a contract for next season.
"But the body language was wrong and we'll be looking to bring in a few more new faces over the summer." The first half was only memorable for the amount of substitutions that Swansea manager Kenny Jackett was forced to make in the opening faze of the game, but the visitors wasted no time in taking the lead at the start of the second half and it was County Durham born striker Paul Connor who broke the deadlock.
In the 48th minute substitute Kevin Nugent, who had replaced the unfortunate Trundle, flicked on for Connor who drilled the ball past Michael Price in the Darlington goal.
Darlington brought on top scorer Barry Conlon in the 62nd minute and three minutes later he was instrumental in setting up Darlington's equaliser for on-loan striker Daniel Graham who rounded substitute keeper Roger Freestone before scoring.
The winning goal came from a Roberto Martinez free kick in the 78th minute. The Spaniard struck a post and substitute Nugent headed in the rebound.