Darlington kept their play-off hopes alive with a win at Grimsby Town thanks to a goal from a player that could easily have been in the opposition line-up.

Liam Hatch headed home his 14th goal of the season – two months after the Mariners tried to sign the striker.

He was a January transfer window target of the Mariners, but he instead signed a permanent deal with Darlington and his effort midway through the first half at Blundell Park ensured Quakers quickly bounced back.

They have moved up two places to eighth, returning to winning ways after suffering a shock home loss to Altrincham at the weekend.

Mark Cooper's men are ten points off fifth place, ten points behind Kidderminster with games in hand, after what was only their third league away win of the season.

Cooper, was also recently wanted by the Blundell Park club, was pleased with the result though admitted his team is capable of better.

“It just shows what a crazy league this is,” he said. “We created so many chances last week when we drew with Kettering and again on Saturday when we lost, but tonight we haven't played as well but won.

“We didn't play as well but we defended properly. It just shows you that if you have the proper drive and defend well that you can get results.

“The play-offs are still possible but we need to win eight games.”

With Marc Bridge-Wilkinson unavailable due to the injury sustained on Saturday, Cooper switched to 3-5-2 and made four personnel changes.

Out went Jamie Chandler, who has still not recovered sufficiently from breaking his hand, as well as Paul Arnison and Michael Smith.

That meant a recalls for Adam Quinn, Greg Taylor, John McReady and John Campbell and it was the striker who played a role in putting Darlington ahead midway through the first half.

Soon after playing a one-two that sent Hatch into the Mariners' penalty area where only a last-ditch Scott Garner challenge blocked the shot, pacey Campbell then raced past the home defence and won a corner from another Garner sliding tackle.

From the set-piece, Ian Miller's header was cleared off the line but Dan Burn quickly returned the ball into the six-yard box where Hatch headed in off the post.

Thereafter Quakers were comfortable, adapting to their new system well with both Brown and Taylor getting forward.

Taylor's cross from on the right touchline found Hatch who headed firmly across goal but there was nobody there to tap the ball home.

Darlington were relatively untroubled at the back with keeper Sam Russell well protected.

There had, though, been several goalmouth scrambles in front of Russell which Quakers had eventually managed to clear.

Five minutes after the restart, however, Russell was indebted to Brown whose goal-line clearance prevented Alan Connell from equalising with a header.

That came following a corner conceded when Burn, who was again excellent, had diverted wide Garner's powerful header during the hosts' period of pressure.

Quakers continued to defend resolutely with Rob Duffy's deft header easily saved by Russell on the hour and soon after Cooper made changes with Paul Terry and Nathan Modest sent on.

Neither were able to have an immediate impact on proceedings, though Darlington at least succeeded in stemming the tide of Grimsby's attacks.

Darlington came close to a second goal in the closing stages, Hatch tried a volley from outside the penalty area that flew just wide of the post and Taylor saw a header saved by keeper Kenny Arthur.

Arthur then dropped a major clanger that he was fortunate not to be punished for. He spilled a high ball that dropped to Hatch 20 yards from goal, but the striker rolled his effort wide of the goal.

It was not to matter as, unlike in some previous matches this season, Quakers comfortably closed out the game to inflict Grimsby's first home league defeat since September.

Darlington hope for another away day success when they travel to league leaders Crawley Town on Saturday.

Goal: Hatch (21, 0-1).

Bookings: Campbell (16, time wasting), Brown (45, foul); Garner (71, foul), Samuels (74, foul).

Referee: Stephen Ross (Lincolnshire) 7.

Attendance: 2,642.

Entertainment: PPP.

Grimsby Town (4-4-2): Arthur 6; Samuels 6, Atkinson 7, GARNER 7, Wood 6; Coulson 7, Cummins 5 (Thanoj 82), Hudson 6, Eagle 6 (Makofo 72); Connell (Ademeno 77), Duffy. Subs (not used): Gray, Peacock.

Darlington (3-5-2): Russell 7; Miller 7, Quinn 7, BURN 8; Taylor 6, G Smith 8, Verma 6 (Terry 63, 6), McReady 7, Brown 7; Hatch 7, Campbell 6 (Modest 63, 6). Subs (not used): St Louis-Hamilton (gk), Arnison, Senior.

Man of the match DAN Burn – Another outstanding display from the teenager.