DARLINGTON striker Nathan Cartman was night named Evo-Stik League First Division North player of the year.

He was one of two Darlington players to receive recognition at the league’s annual awards ceremony with team-mate Chris Hunter also honoured.

Centre-back Hunter made it into the team the divisional team of the year, as did Cartman who attended the awards Barnsley where his goalscoring exploits were rewarded.

He has scored 42 goals in all competitions, 35 in the league, most coming while with Harrogate RA for whom he had a ratio of a goal per game.

Cartman’s top form made him a man in demand and led to Quakers signing him in January since when he’s netted six goals during Darlington’s promotion push.

Manager Martin Gray said: “I have only worked with him for three months since he came from Harrogate RA, but what a talent he is. To score a total of 42 goals in all competitions for two clubs is phenomenal, no matter what level of football you play at. Hopefully, he will finish with a few more.

“He is different to other strikers in this league. He is very clever around the box, he’s got great anticipation and is a natural goalscorer. He doesn’t score very often from outside the area, but inside it he’s a natural predator. He’s got that knack of finding little pockets of space and scoring goals.

“And I think when he settles in more at Darlington, he will become more and more prolific.”

It is the second year in a row that the division’s player of the year award has gone to Darlington as last season Stephen Thompson was the recipient.

Cartman was also named third in the Evo-Stik Supporters Player of the Season poll, an award won by Robbie Dale of Blyth Spartans. Second was FC United’s Tom Greaves.

Dale took a second award as he was named player of the season in the Premier Division, while Blyth team-mate Jarrett Rivers, scorer of the winning goal that knocked Hartlepool United out of the FA Cup this season, won the Premier Division’s young player award.

Hunter has played an integral part in a Darlington defence that has conceded fewer goals than any other team in the division, keeping 17 clean sheets in the process.

He was also one of the team’s impressive performers last season, named in The Northern Echo’s team of 2013-14, having signed for the club in 2013 from Shildon.

Gray said: “Since we took him out of the Northern League, he’s grown and improved. He’s a very consistent player, and what is really pleasing is that he wants to learn all the time.

“In a couple of ways, it was a hard decision for him to move from Shildon, but most of all he wanted to further his football career by playing at a higher level. He’s helped to make our group of players as good as it is, not only because of his skill and attitude, but also because of his temperament – he is such a level-headed person.”

Darlington director Dave Mills added: “The club heartily congratulates both Nathan and Chris and they typify the quality we have running through the entire squad.

“When we signed Nathan in January we knew we were getting a proven goal scorer. Chris has developed into an excellent central defender and you just know he’s dependable and won’t let the team down.”

Joining Cartman and Hunter in the team of the year were two players from Warrington Town, right-back Lewis Field and midfielder Scott Metcalfe, the team Quakers play away to tomorrow evening when a victory is essential to keep alive automatic promotion hopes.

Evo-Stik League First Division North team of the year: Mike Hale (Lancaster City), Lewis Field (Warrington), Cavell Coo (Salford City), Chris Lynch (Salford City), Chris Hunter (Darlington), Alistair Waddecar (Bamber Bridge), Scott Metcalfe (Warrington), Sam Madeley (Salford City), Ciaran Kilheeney (Droylsden), Nathan Cartman (Darlington), Gareth Seddon (Salford City)