Darlington 3 Burscough 0

Darlington’s advantage at the top of the First Division North table is now three points.

While Quakers eased to their eighth successive league win, nearest rivals Salford were held to a 2-2 draw by Mossley, and other challengers Droylsden lost 4-3 at Harrogate RA and Farsley lost 3-1 at lowly Padiham.

But but there are still two thirds of the season to go, and Spennymoor are up next in the league.

Manager Martin Gray was pleased that the players gained a measure of revenge for a poor 2-2 draw at Burscough in August, the game after Quakers had played so well at Spennymoor.

“I said to the players before the game that we owed Burscough one,” said Gray. “Our performance at their place was the last poor game that we had, so we had to make up for it.

“We played poorly but still should have won that game. We scraped a 2-2 draw with Gary Brown scoring two goals. Not good enough. So we’ve put things right.

“This was a really good team performance in conditions that were harder for the players than it looked as it was very windy. We were really dominant in the first half, they couldn’t get out of their half.

“My only criticism is that we didn’t get more goals after all the chances that we created. The lads have come off the pitch frustrated for not scoring more.

“You’ve got to take your chances and we didn’t do that, but the wind was a factor in the first half because we were able to pin them back.

“While it was 1-0 and 2-0 Burscough still had a chance, but at 3-0 it was a bit more difficult for them so it was pleasing to score that last goal.”

Quakers were well on top early in the game with the wind at their backs, and got the breakthrough their early play deserved after 18 minutes when Amar Purewal turned home after being put through by the hard-working Adam Mitchell.

Purewal made a telling contribution to the second goal, when his header from a long clearance downfield into the opposition penalty area by keeper Peter Jameson was palmed away by Burscough keeper Jack Cookson, but only as far as Graeme Armstrong who tapped in the loose ball.

Armstrong and Alan White both missed headers and they should have had a penalty when Purewal was wrestled to the ground inside the area, but the referee awarded a free kick outside the box instead.

There was no cause to question a penalty award on 70 minutes when Burscough full back Joe Camozzi lost his balance as he tried to challenge Adam Mitchell on the left side of the area, and pushed the ball away from the winger with an outstretched hand.

Stephen Thompson, in the absence of the benched Terry Galbraith, tucked the penalty into the bottom corner of the net for his second league goal of the season.

“It’s good to have competition for places,” said. Gray. “Armstrong, Amar, Dowson, Hatch and Thompson, they’re all fit now so we feel as though we’re getting back to having a really strong squad in all departments.

“But we’re still looking for players, no question about it. We can’t rely on everyone staying fit all season or avoiding suspension, so we’re looking to two or three players.

“There’s nothing imminent, but we’re out and about all the time and sooner or later we’ll get the player that we feel is right to bring into the squad.”

Burscough nearly pulled a goal back with a Mark Beesley effort that struck the bar, but his lack of success means that Quakers have kept clean sheets in each of their last four matches.

Quakers now have a free midweek to prepare for the FA Trophy tie at Scarborough on Saturday, and an important home game against Moors in the league on November 5th.

In the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, Whitby Town beat Nantwich 3-1. David McTiernan (2) and Matthew Waters scored their goals before Iain Howard replied.

MATCH FACTS

Goals: Purewal (19, 1-0), Armstrong (35, 2-0), Thompson pen (70, 3-0)

Bookings: White (42, foul); Camozzi (69, handball); A Brown (82, foul)

Referee: Matthew Diccio (Middlesbrough)

Attendance: 941

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Watson; A Mitchell, Portas, Scott, Thompson (Galbraith 71); Purewal (Hatch 73), Armstrong (Dowson 60). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Cocks

Burscough (4-5-1): Cookson; Camozzi, Washburn (Quirk 73), Brown, Schofield; Monaghan (Dunleavey 76), Joyce, Toner, Beesley, Caddick; Jones. Subs (not used): Smith, Devine, Duff