Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley said that his team was “poor” in the 2-1 win at Blackwell Meadows.

Ainsley revealed that he had read the riot act to the players in the dressing room at half time, because his side was second best to Quakers in the first 45 minutes.

“I had to say something at half time, because I thought we were poor and we played nowhere near the football that we’re accustomed to. Midge and Tommy sorted out the shape and in the second half, our shape was far better. Ironically in the majority of games against Darlington previously, we’ve played better and only come out of them with a draw or nothing.

“I don’t think it was a great game if I was honest. For two attacking sides, there weren’t many chances created, but the goals by Glen Taylor and Stephen Brogan were fit to win any game.

“We’ve ground out a result. We were awful in the first half. We were sloppy, I asked the players if they were aware that they were playing Darlington. We were miles away from what we usually are and we were second best all over the park. It didn’t feel like a derby game, it felt flat, very much like after the Lord Mayor’s show following our win over Sutton United last week. Out of possession in the second half I thought we were a lot better, but we still didn’t create a great deal.

“Glen’s confidence is so high now, that a year ago he wouldn’t have had a shot at goal from that distance, but now he’s scored three wonder goals in three games. His confidence is showing through now. He doesn’t do tap ins, I don’t think he likes to score from a few yards.

“If that strike was shown on Match of the Day, it would be shown everywhere because it was an unbelievable strike, he had no right to take it on, but it was just a fabulous finish.

“Stephen Brogan kept slipping over all game in setplays, but then he’s produced a moment of magic again which he’s done on previous occasions.

“We were nowhere near our best, but that’s a sign of a good side when you come away to places like Darlington in front of a hostile crowd and win.

“It means a lot to me to beat Darlington, but that’s only because in the games we’ve played against them, I thought we deserved more. It’s not just a proud moment for me, it’s also a proud moment for Spennymoor Town Football Club and the whole town. The game was all about the three points for us, it was a matter of winning and staying in the play-off spots.”