While Darlington are looking forward to ending the season by playing in a national final, so too are their youth team who are celebrating their latest success.

Quakers' kids put in an impressive display to beat Oldham Athletic 1-0 on Saturday in the Football League Youth Alliance Cup Area Final - North.

In a game played at Oldham's training ground, Paul Grainger's 20-yard strike was enough to give Craig Liddle's side the northern crown.

The national final will be at a date to be confirmed against either Wycombe Wanderers or Southend United who meet tomorrow.

Oldham became the latest side to be defeated by Darlington in a competition that has seen them also overcome Wigan Athletic, Bradford, Tranmere and Morecambe.

Saturday's showing saw Quakers put in one of their best performances of the season with Liddle lauding the teenagers for their football.

He said: "We started off a bit nervously but after we changed formation we played some of the best football I have seen in the three years I have been doing the job. They were outstanding.

"It was a good strike from Paul. I thought it was a cross but he's adamant it was a shot."

Darlington return to league action now and, with Chesterfield having already clinched first place, the aim is to finish runners-up.

Quakers, who beat Chesterfield home and away, have four games to play starting against Grimsby Town at Houghall Campus in Durham on Saturday.

While Darlington's teenagers have only four league matches left, the club's senior team have eight games to play and are looking forward to a trek to Newport County tomorrow - just three days after the long journey to Crawley.

The 1-0 defeat at Crawley was Quakers' fourth fixture in 12 days and there will be no respite as the club must play two games a week for the remainder of the season.

Left-back Aaron Brown admits the schedule is demanding, saying: "I don't want to use it as an excuse, but I feel knackered now!

"It takes its toll, obviously. You give 100 per cent in every game, but your body doesn't always feel as though it can give 100 per cent.

"The manager has been good with us, he's been giving us a couple of days off here and there to try and get our legs back.

"We've been mixing it up a bit by resting players and we're still within touching distance of the play-offs."