Northwich Victoria 0 Darlington 1

Darlington gave themselves a massive boost with a vital 1-0 away win at Northwich Victoria tonight – thanks to a goal by top scorer Graeme Armstrong.

Quakers were the first side to threaten, when David Dowson got away on the end of a Terry Galbraith pass, and from an acute angle fired across the face of goal.

Quakers stayed in the ascendancy, and took the lead after 15 minutes when top scorer Graeme Armstrong turned in a Terry Galbraith corner for his 20th league goal of the season.

It was nearly 2-0 a few minutes later when Leon Scott set up Ian Watson, whose low shot was well saved by Northwich keeper Tim Deasy.

The former Gateshead keeper pulled off another good save on the half hour mark, when he got down well to stop a Graeme Armstrong header from an Adam Mitchell cross.

But at the other end, Darlo keeper Peter Jameson had to move sharply to save at the feet of Josh Amis, who had broken through.

Quakers deserved their half time lead, having produced their best football for several weeks.

After a half time hailstorm, Northwich pushed three up front in the second half. They forced a couple of corners, and from the second of them Iain Howard turned and shot over the bar.

But Quakers hit back, and nearly made it 2-0, but Armstrong hit the post after Leon Scott’s shot was blocked.

Northwich put the pressure on the Darlo goal in the last ten minutes. Gary Burnett put a good chance over the bar, and Stuart Cook fired straight at Jameson, but the Darlo defence held out for three points that puts Quakers three points behind leaders Salford with a game in hand.

Darlo are at home to Droylsden on Saturday, while Salford are at home to Spennymoor.