A “COMPLETE performance” is how Tommy Wright described his biggest win so far as Darlington manager.

Quakers defeated Blyth Spartans 3-0 at Blackwell Meadows yesterday, a much-deserved win and the manager’s third in what was his 14th game at the helm.

The other victories were 3-1 versus Harrogate Town, and 3-2 last week at Leamington, while Darlington have occasionally shown glimpses of their capabilities in other contests.

On Saturday, however, a fine team performance with several contenders for the man of the match accolade, saw Darlington defeat the play-off contenders.

Wright said: “We’ve had good performances before; Kidderminster away (3-3), Leamington (3-2), Tamworth at home (0-1), but never a complete one.

“At Kiddy in the first half we were a joke, second half we were very good.

“We hadn’t done a complete performance until now and we deserved it.”

It was a largely even first half with both teams having glimpses of goal, the 45 minutes ending with Stephen Thompson scoring a penalty to make it 1-0, with Darlington doing more to win the game in the second period, Reece Styche and Dave Syers scoring.

Wright added: “It was end-to-end. You had two teams that wanted to have a go at each other.

"It was stretched, defences couldn’t get out, it was attacking football, both sets of full-backs were bombing on.

“It was always going to have goals, but this season we led Blyth at half-time before and then got caught a lesson in the second half.

“So I was delighted today that we held on, because the lads deserved it. It’s been coming.”

Blyth’s game-plan appeared to centre heavily on playing long passes to pacey striker Dan Maguire, who had netted 14 league goals this term.

Wright added: “We spoke about Blyth’s threats, about what they were doing to cause us trouble. They were surrendering possession to our centre-backs and letting us carry the ball into midfield, which is great, but that leaves big holes behind and that was what they were trying to exploit.

“They wanted to make the most of a weak or a misplaced pass from us, then turn the ball into the channel and Maguire was going to stretch us.

“That was their game-plan and we ironed it out pretty quickly.”

Next weekend Darlington travel to Bradford PA, who are eighth in the table, just below Blyth.