Darlington 3 Mossley 1

Darlington made it six wins in a row with two early Adam Mitchell goals the foundations for victory as they overcame Mossley in a wind-affected game.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, second-placed promotion hopefuls Quakers were 3-0 up by the break and the lead proved enough to take the points and keep the pressure on leaders Salford City.

As expected, Salford won at home to mid-table Clitheroe, so remain three points ahead of Quakers, though Martin Gray’s side have a game in hand.

They know victory in each of their final three matches would be enough to snatch the title.

Darlington have had a penchant for conceding early goals in recent months, but today they took the lead after four minutes when Mitchell netted at close-range following a Gary Brown throw-in.

Brown’s initial throw had been headed to the edge of the box, Leon Scott played it back in to Alan White, he passed the ball out to Brown and his delivery was turned in by Mitchell.

And it was 2-0 ten minutes later with another goal for Mitchell. It came after a slack pass by Mossley’s Sam Robinson was intercepted by Mitchell, and he passed to Portas on the right before the midfielder played the ball to the near post.

The right-winger has now scored six goals in his last five appearances.

The two-goal cushion was put Darlington at ease, though Mossley appealed for a penalty when they felt Sam Robinson was shoved by White and the visitors showed themselves to be a strong side.

They needed a win to keep alive their play-off hopes, but Quakers keeper Peter Jameson was kept well protected by his defence and it was 3-0 when Graeme Armstrong added the third ten minutes before the break.

The striker fired home from just inside the penalty area, though the visitors were justified in believing that the striker had handled when taking a touch to control the ball.

Armstrong was denied a second goal due to a fine save by Liam Flynn, the keeper tipping the ball over the bar after the striker had connected sweetly with a half-volley from 18 yards following good play in the centre by Portas.

With Mossley benefitting from the wind at their backs after the break, Jameson was much busier. The saves he had to make were few, instead he had more high balls to deal with while it was tough ensuring goal kicks reached the opposition half.

He had no chance with Michael Fish’s penalty on the hour, however. Stephen Thompson was adjudged to have Joshua Granite by referee Terry Fletcher, a decision that Gray had no qualms with.

The goal gave Mossley belief, hope they could salvage something from the game, while Quakers fans can remember Bishop Auckland clawing back a 2-2 draw from a 2-0 half-time deficit two years ago thanks in part to high winds at Heritage Park.

However, Darlington showed good game management to protect their 3-1 lead. While they rarely went in search of another goal, they focused on their defence, White in particular winning a series of headers.

Flynn made his second good save of the day by pushing the ball over after a Cartman header following a Terry Galbraith cross.

Another good save came at the other end, Jameson showing quick reactions at close-range to tip over a header by Rio Ahmadi following a left-wing cross.

The keepers had become the centre of attention, though Flynn blotted his copybook when he appeared to plunge his thuds into Armstrong’s thigh when catching a ball on edge of penalty area.

The referee cannot have seen the incident clearly as he took no action against the fortunate keeper.

With Liam Hatch sent on to give Quakers increased height advantage at set-pieces, Darlington saw out the rest of the match to a successful conclusion.

Though the conditions were summed up when Mossley right-back Caldon Henson almost scored from his own half. He won a 50-50 tackle, the ball bouncing inside Darlington’s penalty area before going just over the bar, leaving Jameson sprawling inside the back of his own net.

Darlington next in action next Saturday at Lancaster City, while Salford are at Burscough.

Goals: A Mitchell (4, 1-0), A Mitchell (14, 2-0), Armstrong (35, 3-0); Fish pen (58, 3-1)

Bookings: Bennett (63, foul); Brown (71, foul); Granite (88, dissent) Hatch (88, dissent)

Referee: Terry Fletcher (Washington)

Attendance: 1,233

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Galbraith; A Mitchell, Scott, Portas (Watson 88), Thompson (Hatch 74); Armstrong, Cartman (Dowson 66). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Mota

Mossley (4-5-1): Flynn; Henson, Dean, Granite, Barron (Ahmadi 46); Pratt (Anderson 86), Hevingham, Keogh, Bennett, Robinson; Fish. Subs (not used): McGonigle, Farrimond, McDonnell