An own goal and Nathan Cartman's 18th of the season gave Quakers the points against Sutton Coldfield.

But it could have been so much better, because Blyth came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Ilkeston., so Quakers remain four points behind with three games in hand.

Quakers took the lead after just three minutes. Nathan Cartman was fouled 30 yards out, Terry Galbraith floated the free kick into the box, and Sutton defender Scott Lycett obligingly headed the ball past his own keeper from six yards.

[caption id="attachment_19876" align="alignnone" width="300"] Scott Lycett heads into his own goal[/caption]

It was nearly 2-0 when Graeme Armstrong found Adam Mitchell with a good ball down the right, and Mitchell hit a powerful shot that James Wren just managed to push away.

Armstrong had a half chance on 15 minutes from a long clearance by Peter Jameson, he tried to lob Wren from 30 yards, but the keeper backpedalled and held on to the ball.

Sutton had a chance on 23 minutes, the ball was nodded on for Gueyes on the edge of the box, and his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.

Interest off the field grew, as it was learned that Blyth were trailing 3-0 at Ilkeston.

Quakers thought they should have had a penalty when Liam Hardy was pushed off the ball as he ran into the box, but the referee awarded a corner instead.

Quakers nearly got a second just on half time. Mitchell chipped a free kick to the far post where Galbraith pulled it back, and Hardy headed over the bar.

Half time: Darlington 1 Sutton Coldfield 0

Don't forget to vote for your man of the match.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WZQ5L7N

If you want to invest in the club, click here

http://fundraising.darlingtonfcsupportersgroup.org

Attendance 1307

Galbraith almost got the second just after half time, when he had a shot charged down, picked up the rebound, and fired just wide.

Lee Gaskell came on as sub for Liam Hardy, and with his first touch, had a glancing header saved from Galbraith’s inswinging free kick.

The crowd was getting slightly nervous, and Quakers looked for the second.

 Another Quakers sub, Stephen Thompson, made a good run in from the left, played a 1-2 with Leon Scott, but fired into the side netting.

Quakers lifted the apprehension on 76 minutes. Thompson won the ball in midfield, found Nathan Cartman, who ran forward and buried a right foot shot into the bottom corner for his 18^th league goal of the season.

Quakers were content to keep possession after that for the victory, but in the meantime Blyth scored twice late in the game to win 4-3 at Ilkeston.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WZQ5L7N

Goals: Lycett (og 3 mins, 1-0) Cartman (76 mins, 2-0)

Darlington: Jameson, Hunter, Galbraith, Turnbull, Burgess, Portas, Hardy (sub Gaskell 52), Scott  (sub Nowakowski 78), Armstrong (sub Thompson 60), Cartman, Mitchell

Subs: Provett, White, Nowakowski

Sutton Coldfield: Wren, Gonzales, Jackson (sub Nhialwenhie 28) , Forde, Kettle, Lycett, Edmunds, Turton, Gayle, O’Callaghan, Gueyes (sub Brooks 75))

Subs: Gwilliams

Referee: Tony Peart

Attendance 1307