Darlington 1 AFC Telford United 0

DARLINGTON again put their off-field troubles behind them to beat AFC Telford United, their fourth win in a row.

Mark Beck got the only goal, taking his season’s tally to 17 with a penalty.

It is the first time Quakers have won four back-to-back matches since August, Martin Gray’s men commendably focusing on their football despite being aware they will not be allowed to contest the play-offs due to their ground not meeting criteria.

Today’s win in their final match of the campaign at Blackwell Meadows means they stay fourth, a position ahead of Salford City. The clubs complete their league fixtures against one another next weekend.

Early on Nathan Cartman had a sniff of goal from a Gary Brown throw, often a source of goals for Quakers. Flicked on by Mark Beck, Cartman could not quite get to the ball ahead of Telford keeper Ashley Rawlings.

Veteran striker Lee Hughes then had his first sight of goal, cutting inside Liam Marrs after a Telford counter, the low shot saved by Bartlett.

Marrs was recalled as Chris Hunter moved to the centre of defence to cover for Terry Galbraith, who has a calf strain.

Galbraith has 13 goals this season and Dave Syers almost joined him on double figures when he headed over when meeting a terrific Gillies cross from the left, delivered with pace his right foot.

Hughes was clearly Telford’s pivot, all of their attacks aiming for the 40-year-old, who became the first opposition player to play at the Arena, Heritage Park and Blackwell Meadows.

He was involved again after a shot by Eddie Jones was deflected into his path, but Hughes’ shot was wide.

David Ferguson, who scored his first Quakers goal on Easter Monday against FC United, lifted a free-kick high over the bar from the corner of the penalty area, a poor attempt which summed up the disappointing nature of the first half.

However, Darlington did come close to scoring and again Gillies was the creator.

A low free-kick was turned towards goal by Beck, but the effort was narrowly wide.

Beck felt he had been pushed in the back inside Telford’s penalty area soon after the restart, and so did a vociferous Gray, Quakers’ manager making his feelings clear to referee Simeon Lucas.

Lucas did point to the spot moments later, however, when Ferguson went to ground.

The marauding left-back got on the end of Cartman’s back-heeled but was tripped by Dwayne Samuels, who was booked for the foul, and Beck scored from the spot.

It was his 17th goal of the season and second penalty.

The goal came in the 53rd minute, giving Darlington a foothold at the beginning of a second half in which they were stronger than the opposition.

It was almost 2-0 after good work by Stephen Thompson. He got to the byline and played the ball across goal, Brown retrieved it at the far post and returned it to the danger area where Ferguson turned it towards goal but Ben Bailey cleared off the line.

After Cartman made a nuisance of himself, Marrs tried a dink which sailed wide, and then a Brown header was off target at the front post after meeting a Gillies free-kick.

There was a spirited end to the match from Telford. Danny Reynolds found space in Quakers’ penalty area to fire in a shot that Bartlett, who had hardly been involved, reacted well to save, and the goalkeeper gathered a header by David Hibbert.

There was a big chance for 2-0. Substitute Leon Scott showed composure to take a touch and play in Beck, but he blasted wide of the far post, before came another superb save by Bartlett.

He leapt to his left to beat away a well-struck effort by Reynolds, who had a clear sight of goal.

Harvey Saunders showed his pace when he headed for goal and denied what appeared to be a penalty. He was about to pull the trigger when go one-on-one with the keeper, but Samuels got back to make a tackle, unfairly according to the striker.

The referee decided against awarding another penalty against the Telford right-back, and in a dramatic close to the game play moved to the other end of the pitch and it needed Bartlett to save the points again, this time denying Bailey.

Goals: Beck pen (53, 1-0) Bookings: Samuels (52, foul)

Referee: Simeon Lucas

Attendance: 1,800

Darlington (4-4-2): Bartlett; Marrs, Brown, Hunter, Ferguson; Thompson, Syers (Scott 65), Turnbull (Falkingham 65), Gillies; Cartman (Saunders 71), Beck. Subs not used: Wilczinski (gk), Wearmouth

Telford United (4-3-3): Rawlings; Samuels, Bailey, Havern, Higham; Fitzpatrick, Rea, Jones (Hibbert 63); Wilson, Hughes (Westwood 77), Lilley (Reynolds 63). Subs not used: McCarthy, Royle