TWO first half goals saw Darlington secure their first away win since October.

Boston United was never a venue Quakers enjoyed visiting in the Football League, but they were ahead from an early stage today and derved the three-point haul.

Not since the 4-1 victory at Harrogate Town had Quakers won on the road, but strikes by Nathan Cartman and Dave Syers earned a long-awaited win, while three saves Ed Wilczynski kept them ahead when under pressure in the second half.

Darlington took the lead on 14 minutes, the first of two goals in the opening half from set-pieces.

A long throw on the right by Gary Brown was flicked on to the far post where the wily Cartman had evaded his marker to tap in.

It was a simple manoeuvre executed to perfection, and 12 minutes later it was almost 2-0 when Dave Syers saw a powerful header saved by keeper Ross Durrant after a David Ferguson corner.

It was a largely scrappy game of few scoring opportunities from open play, Boston forcing one that saw Syers play a crucial role in preserving Darlington’s lead. He blocked a shot by Karl Hawley when a cross had only been partially cleared.

Darlington’s set-piece prowess continued just before half-time when it became 2-0 after a Ferguson free-kick.

Again selected ahead of Terry Galbraith at left-back in an unchanged XI, Ferguson fired the ball in, Boston were unable to deal with the delivery and Syers was alert enough to convert.

At the beginning of the second half a Stephen Thompson free-kick was blasted across the six-yard box, but no team-mate could get a touch on the ball, Kevin Burgess narrowly missing the delivery and ending up in the back of the net himself rather than the ball.

Thompson then flicked header wide after a Cartman cross, before finally Boston began to show signs of recovering.

An Adam Chapman long throw fell to debutant Colby Bishop, but he turned the ball over from close-range, but just after the hour the Pilgrims pulled one back.

Hawley, a January signing, turned nearly in the penalty area to fire home.

Wilczynski then took centre stage, Quakers’ keeper making three saves to maintain the one-goal advantage as Darlington found themselves increasingly under pressure.

A terrific save by Wilczynski denied Alex Simmons when he had only the keeper to beat, and Wilczynski soon stopped Simmons again, diving to his left to keep out a free-kick curled over the Darlington wall.

Wilczynski saved for a third time when he thwarted Jay Rollins after a Boston counterattack which began when a Leon Scott pass to Syers was intercepted, the goalkeeper blocking with his body to keep the score at 2-1.

Boston ran out of steam, Darlington standing firm to complete the victory.

Goals: Cartman (14, 1-0), Syers (43, 0-2); Hawley (63, 1-2)

Bookings: Yeomans (90, foul)

Referee: Martyn Rawcliffe

Attendance: 1,243

Boston United (4-5-1): Durrant; Gatter (Thomas 53), Robinson, Batchelor, Yeomans; Simmons, Chapman, Hilliard (Bishop 53) Clarke, Rollins; Hawley. Subs (not used): Gordon, Fitzpatrick, Chippendale

Darlington (4-3-3): Wilczynski; Falkingham, Brown, Burgess, Ferguson; Syers, Scott, Turnbull (Galbraith 80); Thompson (Gillies 90), Cartman (Hardy 70), Beck. Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Blackford