Steve Watson’s side had won six from six before today and led 2-1 at half-time, but they faded late on and Alun Armstrong’s team capitalised.
Darlington were without a handful of injured players, with Kallum Griffiths, Tom Platt, Matty Cornish and Alfie Myers-Smith all watching on from the balcony at Blackwell Meadows.
Plus, Heed refused permission for on-loan keeper Peter Jameson and Will McGowan to feature, Armstrong’s concern being should either of them be involved in sustaining or causing an injury.
National League Gateshead made a blistering start, taking a second-minute lead when new signing Dom Telford’s shot went under the arm of stand-in goalkeeper Matthew Bancroft.
The free agent answered an SOS to play, and he was almost picking the ball out of the net again after six minutes, but Harry Chapman’s strike struck a post.
Thereafter Quakers looked strong going forward and Tom Allan – who has also made the move from Gateshead to Darlington this summer but was able to play as he has signed permanently – made it 1-1 with a fine curling strike from outside the penalty area.
Darlington went 2-1 ahead six minutes before the break when Aidan Rutledge, another of Quakers’ ex-Gateshead clan, won a header in the Heed penalty area and Cedric Main was on hand to score at close-range.
Attack-minded left-back Josh Scott impressed for Quakers and almost capped his afternoon with a goal, but after breaking into the penalty area his diving header went over after meeting a right-wing cross.
The second half was initially less eventful with the inevitable raft of substitutions breaking up play.
Will Hatfield volleyed over after Jack Maskell nodded down the ball in the penalty area.
And later Hatfield tried his luck again, this time from a Rutledge knock-down, but the midfielder blazed the ball over.
But with only a handful of teenagers on the bench, Darlington tired while Gateshead were able bring fresh legs on and ended the contest on top.
They equalised when highly-rated Callum Bone scored after Bancroft stopped his first effort but the 17-year-old tapped home the loose ball.
And in the 88th minute Kaine Adom latched onto a forward pass and took the ball around Bancroft before rolling the ball over the line for 3-2.
Darlington should be able to select from a stronger pool of players when the National League North season starts next Saturday at home to Chorley.
Darlington: Bancroft, Hedley, Lees, Barrow, Scott (Small 80), Forbes (Maddison 75), Hatfield, Allan (Murray 90), Maskell, Main, Rutledge (Kirokiro 80)
