Stalybridge Celtic 0 Darlington 1

Mark Beck's spot kick, his 14th league goal of the season, gave Quakers three well deserved points at Bower Fold.

Also pleasing was a clean sheet, only Quakers' third of the season, but victory would have been well assured by the final whistle if it wasn't for a terrific display by home keeper Grant Shenton.

There was early pressure from Quakers that resulted in a second minute corner that was cleared at the near post, and then a Gary Brown long throw was laid off by Mark Beck for Stephen Thompson to have a shot blocked.

But Stalybridge had a chance when Danny Wilkins controlled a low cross from the right, and he was just about to shoot when Chris Hunter came across and put the ball out for a corner.

David Syers then had a powerful right foot shot from 30 yards deflected just over for a corner.

Darlo got a penalty on 25 minutes, Falkingham did well to get a round the back and laid the ball back for Ferguson, who was brought down by Chalmers.

Mark Beck, on penalty duty, tucked in the penalty.

It was nearly 2-0 when Beck helped on a long ball for Syers to hit first time on his left foot, but unfortunately straight at Shenton.

Quakers had another chance on 37 minutes when Beck picked the ball up 25 yards out and tried a curler, but the ball went a yard wide of the left hand post.

And another opportunity came along on 42 minutes. Another long throw by Brown was cleared as Falkingham, who hit a powerful 20 yard shot that Shenton turned away for a corner.

And from the corner, Quakers nearly scored when Syers headed the ball back for Burgess to put an overhead kick just over.

Half time

Stalybridge 0 Darlington 1

There was a half chance for Quakers at the start of the second half when Shenton’s loose clearance went to Turnbull about 40 yards out on the right, and he tried to chip the ball over the keeper, but the ball went over the top.

It was nearly 2-0 again with a Ferguson cross to the far post where Beck nodded the ball down for Cartman, whose close range shot was blocked somehow by Shenton.

Shenton pulled off another good save on 65 minutes, when Cartman nodded the ball across for Beck to turn towards the bottom corner, but the keeper got down well low to his left to save.

Another opportunity came Quakers’ way on 69 minutes when Ferguson skipped past a defender on a run from the left, and struck a low  right foot shot straight at Shenton.

Stalybridge had a penalty shout on 70 minutes when Roberts ran into the box and went down when Brown challenged, but ref waved play on.

The ref did the same at the other end when sub Gillies crossed for Cartman to have a close range shot blocked by a defender with Quakers appealing for handball.

Quakers got a free kick for a foul on Falkingham 20 yards out, and Gillies fired the ball right footed inches past the upright.

Stalybridge rallied for the last five minutes. Ed Wilczynski made a good save from Keano Deacon after he cut in from the left, and Brown blocked the follow up from Bakare.

But Quakers saw out the last six minutes of stoppage time to clinch their sixth away win of the season.

Team: Wilczynski, Hunter, Ferguson, Turnbull, Burgess, Brown, Syers (sub Galbraith 77), Falkingham, Beck, Cartman (sub Saunders 77), Thompson (sub Gillies 68)

Subs: Jameson, Marrs

Booking: Brown

Stalybridge

Shenton, Morton, Wisdom, Hughes, Horsfall, Chalmers, Dunbar, Regan (sub Bakare 73) Roberts, Wilkins, Pilkington (sub Deacon 58)

Subs: Ahmadi, Bourne, McKnight

Booking: Chalmers, Dunbar

Attendance 712