IN-FORM Darlington have now won eight games in a row, but Blyth Spartans are pushing them all the way in an intense race for the title.

Neither team looks like dropping a point at the moment, so despite Quakers’ relentless run, they know another six victories and a draw in their final eight fixtures may be needed to topple the leaders.

Saturday’s action indicated that the race for promotion is going to the wire.

While Quakers recorded an unremarkable 2-0 home win over Sutton Coldfield Town, thanks to an own goal and a Nathan Cartman strike, Blyth recovered from being 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Ilkeston, Robbie Dale’s winner coming deep into injury time.

If they are not going to drop points in that situation, then will they ever?

It’s unlikely to happen this evening, when they are at relegation-threatened Hyde United, who have not won in seven league games, losing five.

An Blyth win would leave Darlington seven points off the top with four fixtures in hand, but that gap was minutes away from being only two points before Ilkeston collapsed, taking the gloss off Darlington’s latest win.

Manager Martin Gray would not be drawn on Blyth, saying only: “I’m not interested. It’s about Darlington.”

It would be understandable if he were irked by Blyth’s fightback, commendable though it was, but their form is seemingly succeeding in bringing the best out of Darlington. Saturday’s victory was their 16th in 19 games, and their 27th of the campaign, one more than last season’s champions, FC United, managed.

Both of the current top two are on course to eclipse United’s points tally of 92, Blyth currently on 90, with Darlington on 86.

Saturday’s three-point haul extended Quakers’ unbeaten home run to six months with a victory perhaps best described as scrappy.

It was not a vintage display, yet keeper Peter Jameson had only one save to make, in the dying seconds, while Gray’s men had chances to increase the scoreline.

“At this stage of the season it’s about putting points on the board,” he said. “We had another clean sheet and two good goals, one from a set-piece and the other was a bit of individual play from Nathan Cartman, so it was really pleasing.

“It was important to keep a clean sheet, we stressed that point at half-time, and in the second half we grew stronger and stronger.

“On another day we maybe could’ve scored a couple more goals, but it’s all about winning games.

“We had no injuries either, so we go again on Tuesday.”

That is away to Frickley, another mid-table side but one that has conceded only once in their last seven unbeaten home matches, so it is unlikely Quakers will be given a goal as cheaply as Saturday’s opener.

With only three minutes gone Sutton centre-back Scott Lycett inexplicably headed past his own goalkeeper when attempting to defend a Terry Galbraith free-kick.

Lycett went on to enjoy an otherwise solid afternoon, but he had let his team-mates down and his gaffe gave Gray’s side the initiative.

They enjoyed a strong start without scoring again before the break and for a depleted team marooned in mid-table, without former Shrewsbury Town striker Luke Rodgers, Sutton were game and made a fight of it, but Darlington’s defence remained on top.

Gary Brown was unable to play due to suffering concussion last week against Halesowen.

Gray explained: “We’re looking after him really, so that nothing occurs again. It was doctor’s advice, not ours, he would’ve been playing if it was up to me!”

After a stop-start performance for the first hour, it was not until Lee Gaskell and Stephen Thompson entered the fray, the latter dropped after a sub-standard display last week, that Darlington looked more convincing.

He was unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when barged by Cameron Gayle, but referee Tony Peart was not convinced. He also waved away penalty appeals when Sutton sub Siso Nhialwenhie barged into the recalled Liam Hardy.

With 15 minutes to go Darlington were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Cartman made it 2-0, after good work by the rejuvenated Thompson.

He won the ball from Lycett in the centre of midfield, played it forward to Cartman, who ignored Tom Portas’ plea for a pass and let fly from 20 yards to score his 18th league goal.

“He scores most of his goals inside the six-yard box, that’s the first time I’ve seen him score from outside the penalty area, but we needed that second goal to kill the game off,” said Gray.

The goal wrapped up the points, leaving Quakers looking forward to their last eight matches, starting tomorrow evening and then on Saturday at home to Nantwich Town.

Gray added: “Eight to go. We’re in good form, we’ve got to stay in good form and we can’t wait for Tuesday night now.”

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