Darlington manager Martin Gray was quick to thank Spennymoor Town and their chairman Brad Groves after Quakers' excellent 3-0 home win over Skelmersdale on Tuesday night.

After a frantic day of weather forecasts, pitch forking and phone calls, Moors agreed to a Darlington request to stage the game which Quakers won and put them on top of the table in a terrific atmosphere.

"It was a very busy day, one that I don't want to experience too often," said MG with a degree of understatement.

"We are very thankful to Spennymoor Town and their chairman, Brad Groves for allowing us to use their facilities and fulfil our fixture at very short notice.

"We had to make a decision at midday, because the rain was coming down heavily and Heritage Park was getting more and more flooded. We tried to make it playable -- and thanks to the volunteers who came to the ground following our appeal -- but the weather was against us. Spennymoor dug us out of it. They made a massive effort to help us, and they get a massive big thank you from us."

Director John Tempest said; "On behalf of all Darlington fans I would like to give a huge thank you to Spennymoor chairman Brad Groves, not only on his quick decision for us to use their ground on Tuesday night but also the extremely generous gesture of not accepting a DFC fee offer rather that any monies be ploughed back into the Heading Home fund."