IT was tense and nervy, but Darlington did enough to cut Blyth Spartans’ lead at the top with a 2-1 win over Nantwich Town, as Martin Gray’s side ended with ten men.

Tom Portas grabbed the winning goal, but Chris Hunter was red-carded for a foul in the closing stages.

His early exit for a foul, which the club are considering appealing against, led to some nervous moments, yet Quakers showed their resolve to close out a vital victory with squad’s determined character coming to the fore.

“It was a must-win game after the disappointment of Frickley,” said Gray, whose team have six matches to play.

“We played against possibly the best footballing team we have played against in the league and we created a lot of problems, so it was a fantastic three points.

“It was like playing against Spennymoor, it was always going to be tight because they’re a good football team, but we dug in and ground out the result.”

The win leaves Darlington only four points behind Blyth with two games in hand, and it lifts spirits two days after seeing their eight-match winning run ended with defeat at Frickley.

That loss meant immediately bouncing back was essential, and Darlington did so although it was not pretty.

They led at the break with a Stephen Thompson goal, but soon after the restart ceded the lead and struggled to regain their rhythm against a team better than their tenth place position suggests.

The points could have been won far easier had Graeme Armstrong been on target with a flicked header which was inches wide inside the first 60 seconds.

That would have taken the pressure off, but instead there was little between the teams during the opening stages

Nantwich’s Sam Hall was much closer at the other end, letting fly from 30 yards with a powerful low which whistled narrowly wide of Peter Jameson’s right post.

Hall had handled seconds earlier, but referee Craig Dean played on, as he also did when Leon Scott fell inside Nantwich’s penalty area.

Nantwich’s goalkeeper had not been tested with Quakers’ chances few, although they had been building a head of steam.

Then Thompson came up trumps.

Recalled to the side, he was eager to make an impact and had two sights of goal inside two minutes, the high and wide from distance, the second resulting in giving Quakers a half-time lead.

He found a pocket of space, manoeuvred the ball beyond a path of mud and then converted with a calm finish.

But three minutes of the second half had gone went Nantwich levelled, making the most of lapse defending.

Darlington allowed Matt Bell’s free-kick from out on the touchline bounce inside the penalty area and fly past Jameson.

Gary Brown was again absent due to suffering concussion almost a fortnight ago, though Gray hopes to call on him on Saturday at Grantham.

The goal affected Darlington, knocking them out of their stride, so Gray made changes, two strikers coming on, and there was a huge roar as Amar Purewal made his return after or 15 months on the sidelines with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Quakers’ fans were in good voice as their team searched for another goal. It almost came amid a goalmouth scramble after a corner, Scott and Kevin Burgess having shots blocked.

With Blyth so far ahead, a draw would have been no good so Darlington were attack-minded, occasionally leaving themselves exposed at the back.

Jameson saved from Cooke and Josh Hancock lofted a good chance over, but Quakers scored the next goal.

It came via a set-piece, their usual avenue of success.

A throw by Adam Mitchell throw was flicked on by Burgess, keeper Daniel Gyollai came and missed his punch, leaving Portas to score a header.

Gray would have been urging his team to keep their shape and protect the lead, but within two minutes Hunter was off.

He went needlessly went to ground when challenging Liam Shotton, but the challenge was not worthy of anything more than a caution.

Liam made the most of it and, after consulting a linesman, referee Craig Dean flashed a red card.

It was then all hands to the pump, Darlington defending in numbers. Terry Galbraith partnered Burgess in the centre of defence, Leon Scott moved to left-back leaving Gaskell on his own up front and Amar Purewal at left midfield.

It worked too, Darlington showing their mettle to grind out a crucial win – six more inside the final 15 days of the season would clinch the title.