Padiham 1 Darlington 3

Two late goals saw relieved Darlington return to the top of the table with a 3-1 win at struggling Padiham that puts the promotion-chasers in a healthy position.

They are now ahead of Salford City thanks to a much better goal difference, but have three games in hand on their promotion rivals as well as third-placed Northwich Victoria.

The scoreline, however, does little to reflect a match in which they were made to be patient after missing a succession of first-half chances.

Only the most pessimistic of followers would not have expected a Darlington win against the division’s bottom side, Padiham having lost 23 of their 30 matches before last night.

Ten of those had been at home, yet they took the lead and although Quakers turned it around, it was not until the 84th minute that the points looked safe when Stephen Thompson grabbed Darlington’s third goal.

Nonetheless, an eighth away win puts Martin Gray’s men on top of the table ahead of this weekend’s trip to play-off chasing Harrogate RA.

“I was always confident,” said Gray, who had taken the opportunity to leave Chris Hunter on the bench and also give David Dowson a rare start.

“We started the game really well and had a lot of chances. We could’ve been two or 3-0 up before they’d even scored what was their only clear chance of the game.

“I was disappointed with conceding a goal when we were on top, but the reaction of the players was really positive. I don’t think the fact we could go top of the table was a factor.

“We stayed patient and eventually broke them down. The second goal took the wind out of their sails.”

Quakers showed incisive attacking early on, Nathan Cartman, Dowson and Thompson all working to good effect in breaking through the Padiham defence.

Dowson, recalled ahead of the rested Graeme Armstrong, so nearly made it 1-0. His shot beat the keeper, but defender Ashley Young was on the line to clear.

Darlington continued to create but waste opportunities. Cartman was unable to turn ball toward goal after Thompson’s low cross and then Thompson fired over after cutting inside.

Anyone forecasting a goal glut by now would have been reassessing their prediction, particularly when Padiham took the lead against the run of play.

Bobby Langford kept his cool to slot home after collecting a long pass from midfield on 25 minutes, the left-winger out-running Adam Mitchell, who was again at right-back, and had misjudged the pass.

He sometimes gave Langford too much space, but was otherwise competent last night.

It was via Mitchell's cross that Darlington levelled in first-half injury time, arrowing the ball across the pitch to the far post where Nelson Mota smashed the ball home, much to Darlington’s relief.

Mitchell is unavailable on Saturday due to suspension and is due to go on trial at a Football League club.

Veteran striker Brett Omerod, a former pro with Leeds, Preston, Southampton and others, scampered around the pitch.

His movement made him a menace to Darlington, who had briefly lost their way after the goal.

After what had been a frustrating first half, inside the first 30 seconds of the second period Padiham keeper Sean Davis saved at Cartman’s feet.

It was a night when nothing fell for Cartman, who has yet to score from open play in his first four matches.

An attempted back-heel after good work by Dowson did not work, and although a bit of a slog, Quakers bossed the possession, they just could not work the keeper.

Gray had faith, however, and he said of his team: “They showed good character, they didn’t panic.

“The message at half-time was not to force things, if it takes until the 88th minute to get next goal then so be it.

“Thompson got a great goal with his left foot and the second goal was a set-piece, one of Gary Brown’s long throws, which is such an asset to have.”

Inside the final ten minutes there was relief for Darlington as they finally secured the points with two goals in quick succession, the first after Armstrong got the last touch on fellow substitute Liam Hatch’s flick-on following Brown’s throw.

Then Thompson finished things off with a 25-yard blast.

“It’s about momentum now,” added Gray. “We’ve got a game on Saturday at Harrogate and we’re not looking any further forward than that.”

Goals: Langford (25, 1-0) Mota (45, 1-1), Armstrong (82, 1-2) Thompson (84, 1-3)

Bookings: Ross (68, foul)

Referee: Matthew Parry 8

Attendance: 320

Entertainment: ***

Padiham (4-5-1): Davis 6; Ross 6, Murphy 6, Young 6, Grice 5; Haley 5 (Tricket 70, 6), Wilkins 5, Turner 6, Sharples 6, LANGFORD 7; Omerod 6. Subs (not used): Overson, Gibson, Scott, Burgess

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson 7; A Mitchell 7, Brown 7, White 7, Scott 6; Mota 6 (Hatch 77), PORTAS 8, Galbraith 7, Thompson 6 (Hunter 87); Cartman 6, Dowson 6 (Armstrong 57, 7). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Scarr

MAN OF THE MATCH

TOM Portas – Continually drove Darlington forward