Despite being held to a 1-1 draw at second-bottom Bradford City on Saturday, Darlington's youth team clinched the title with three games to spare.

Challengers Scunthorpe United had to win both of their remaining games and hope Quakers dropped points, but the Iron lost at Doncaster which handed Darlington the Football League Youth Alliance, North-East Conference title.

Andrew Bulford's goal was enough to earn the vital point that assures Martin Gray's side of the title in a race that had four clubs within five points of Darlington - including Hartlepool.

The title win, achieved by losing just one game so far - a 2-1 defeat to Hull City in which Darlington's under-18s conceded a own goal and a controversial penalty - marks a drastic turnaround in fortunes for the team which finished bottom of the table last season.

Most of the squad will be together next season as only two are in the final years of their scholarships.

Gray paid tribute to his team and Mick Tait who is youth development officer at the club.

He said: "They have done fantastically well to get through the season losing just one game.

"I've set the lads a target of winning all three remaining games so that we finish a good margin of points clear of second place.

"It's testament to everything that Mick has done, he oversees the whole youth set-up.

"He coaches the team with me and we work well together."

After completing the season at Hull in two weeks' time Quakers will go into a nine-game play-off league, against the best teams from the other regional leagues around the country.

Darlington must first complete their current league programme and their first game as champions will be at home to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (11am) at the Racecourse, Durham.

Saturday's results: Bradford 1 Darlington 1, Doncaster 1 Scunthorpe 0, Grimsby 1 Boston Utd 0, Lincoln City 0 Hartlepool 2, York 0 Hull 2.