DARLINGTON need only a point from their two remaining games for promotion after tightening their grip on the title last night.

Northern Premier League officials were in attendance for Darlington’s 2-0 win over Grantham, but the trophy they brought with them had to stay in the car boot as Blyth Spartans also won.

They beat Rushall Olympic 3-0, meaning Quakers stay two points ahead with two games to play – tomorrow at sixth-bottom Whitby, who are now safe from relegation, and Rushall on Saturday, while Blyth have only one match remaining.

Whoever wins this title tussle will have earned it. Last season FC United took first place with 92 points, the season before Chorley had 97. Last night’s victories mean Quakers are on 101 and Blyth 99.

The clubs have seemingly spurred each on, though manager Martin Gray continued his reluctance to talk about his team’s title chances.

“It’s another big win towards doing what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“There will be a lot of people going across to Whitby on Thursday to get behind us and we’re really looking forward to that massive support.

“We’re going to go there with the mentality that we’ve got to win that game as well.”

It was a low-key start last night, but it was not long before Quakers were ahead.

Striker Liam Hardy, one of four changes, was in on goal after Lee Gaskell’s flick, his shot was blocked but midfielder Leon Scott followed up to get Darlington off to the perfect start.

“The reason Leon got the goal was because of Liam’s work-rate,” said Gray.

“Leon followed up, something that he does well, but don’t forget the reason he got the goal is because of Liam Hardy.”

Darlington, briefly, thought they had a golden chance to make it 2-0 when referee Terry Fletcher awarded a penalty for handball by Michael Emmott, but after the Washington whistle-blower consulted with a linesman he changed his decision to a free-kick outside the penalty area.

Terry Galbraith, reverting to his left-back position after Sunday’s sojourn in midfield, saw his effort from the free-kick saved.

News soon filtered through that two quick goals had put Blyth 2-0 up, a development which killed the mood at a subdued Heritage Park.

No matter what Darlington did, it was clear that hopes of winning the title were already postponed 48 hours.

But Darlington were also soon 2-0 up themselves thanks to the returning Amar Purewal.

Good interplay up the right between Thompson and Chris Hunter saw the right-back take the ball into the penalty area and past a couple of defenders before delivering a low ball for Purewal to tap in.

On his first Quakers league start since December 2014 after fighting his way back from a cruciate injury, he was a popular goalscorer among the 1,734 attendance, the second highest of the season for what was Darlington’s final home league game.

The fans were almost cheering again as goalscoring centre-back Kevin Burgess, on target ten times this season, was just wide with a header from a Galbraith free-kick.

Once the sun disappeared behind the Tin Shed it suddenly became a very cold night at Heritage Park, and Quakers keeper Peter Jameson must have been freezing given he had so little to keep him occupied.

Darlington had been in control throughout the half, though Jameson had a catch to make when dealing with a Stefan Galinski header from a Jack Beckett free-kick, and the ever-reliable Gary Brown made a last-ditch tackle on Grant Ryan.

The incidents were among the few moments of note during an uneventful second half littered with free-kicks but little goalmouth incident.

While Grantham battled, Darlington, in what was their second game in three days following Sunday’s win over Stamford, chose to leave something in the tank for tomorrow.

“It was about controlling the game and seeing it out,” said Gray. “The game was won by half-time, there was no need to do anything silly.”

He made a couple of substitutions around the hour, Graeme Armstrong for Lee Gaskell and Nathan Cartman for the limping Hardy, another potential injury concern.

Adam Nowakowski (groin) and Phil Turnbull (hamstring) are both struggling, while Galbraith finished last night with a bandage around his head.

Burgess continues to play despite a broken hand and starts games these days with a bandage to protect stitches on his forehead.

He hit the crossbar with a header from a Galbraith corner and later was off target in the same scenario.

A Thompson turn and shot from outside the penalty area had keeper Jake Turner scrambling across his line and fans on their feet in the main stand, but the strike was narrowly wide.

It ended 3-0 at Croft Park, so Darlington’s goal difference is ten better than Blyth and, barring a freak scoreline when Spartans face Marine on Saturday, know a point from their remaining two games would be enough for a third promotion in four years.