MARTIN GRAY hailed the players’ character after seeing his Darlington team collect three points in testing conditions at Marine yesterday.

Kevin Burgess’ first-half goal proved enough to earn victory on a day when strong winds and hailstorms battered Merseyside.

Having had the wind advantage before the break, Quakers were up against it in the second half when they defended well to secure a win which lifts them a place to sixth in the table ahead of Tuesday’s home match with Buxton.

“We knew before we came down here that it was not going to be an easy game, even though Marine haven’t been in good form of late,” said Gray, who selected the same starting XI for the fifth successive game.

“Plus, Marine had beaten us at our place with a workmanlike performance.

“The conditions were awful. From the start there were hailstones in the warm-up and throughout the game it didn’t get any easier, so I thought the character of the players was outstanding.”

Quakers were denied on numerous occasions during the first 45 minutes by goalkeeper Matthew Cooper, Lee Gaskell twice seeing close-range efforts blocked.

Gray added: “I was a bit disappointed we didn’t take our chances in the first half, but Marine hadn’t threated at all, they didn’t threaten all game.

“I thought we counter-attacked well in the second half. We sat in and kept our shape.

“We changed our shape with the substitutions, we tried to match them up with their three in midfield, it was a 4-3-3 when in possession and 4-5-1 when out of possession.”

“To come down here, a long trip, and get three points is great. The mentality of the team was outstanding.”

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