WELCOME to the 100 club.

For the first time, Darlington have accumulated 100 points in a season and with plenty of games left they could go well beyond that.

In the last 17 years only Bedlington Terriers and Spennymoor Town have managed to accumulate as many Northern League points and that was enough to secure the title on both occasions.

It is staggering to think surpassing the 100-point mark might not be enough to see Quakers crowned champions in May. But whether Spennymoor overtake them with ten games in hand, everyone connected with the club can be proud of what they have achieved after starting from scratch at the beginning of the season.

A collective effort has made such a record possible, from Martin Gray, his backroom staff and players, to people behind the scenes, who have helped the club keep going, and the supporters.

So it was perhaps fitting that, despite the weather causing so much disruption to the Northern League programme, the milestone was reached in front of a packed Heritage Park in Quakers' first Saturday home game since early November.

The unforgiving climate almost claimed this fixture, as well as the opportunity to enter the 100 club in front of their fans, but the sterling work of 20 volunteers and former groundsman Gary Ventress at 8am on Saturday morning meant the overnight snow wasn't going to spoil the party.

Sunderland RCA were the unfortunate visitors and although they served up a couple of nervy moments, Darlington won 7-2, a result that takes their goals tally to 125 this season.

"It's a massive achievement for us and I'm really proud of the team, but they know that doesn't win us the league," Gray said.

"But to have 100 points with eight games to go, I'm really proud, proud of everyone that's put something in.

"The players, the staff, to get seven goals and reach 100 points, it's a real honour for the football club.

"This game was off in the morning but we had 20 volunteers who came to the pitch very early to clear about two inches of snow to make sure it went ahead.

"That just sums it up, otherwise the game would have been called off at 11 o'clock and we wouldn't have had the chance to get seven goals and break the 100-point mark in front of our own fans.

"They dug in deep to get the game on and so did the players during the game. I'm very proud of what everybody has done on and off the pitch.

"We're still not there but we've given ourselves another chance.

"We're 29 points ahead and Spennymoor will obviously have a final at Wembley to think about now. I know Jason Ainsley very well and I hope they get it, but let's hope they will slip up in the league along the way."

With Moors in FA Vase action, Quakers took the lead when Stephen Thompson converted a penalty after Adam McGuiness had brought down David Dowson.

The striker made it two on the half hour with a tidy finish from inside the area, but RCA pulled one back from the spot through former Darlington forward Jamie Clarke.

Thompson restored Quakers' two-goal lead on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant solo effort, but again RCA came back and substitute Gary Shaw made it 3-2 in the 57th minute.

Quakers were perhaps taking their lead for granted, but Gray made three changes and his side went on a 20-minute rampage, scoring four times.

Super sub Steven Johnson continued to live up to his new nickname with a customary goal, before Thompson completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute.

Amar Purewal made it six four minutes later after a wonderful through ball from substitute Kerry Hedley, before the winger scored the goal of the game with an audacious chip into the far corner from the byline.