A last minute goal from Archie Small earned our Under 23s all three points at Durham Corinthians on Saturday.

The result means that they are eight points clear at the top of the table, and need another four points to be sure of a top two place at the end of the season.

However, they need a drop in form by second placed Middlestone Moor to deny them the title, as the Spennymoor side are eight points behind with six games in hand, and still haven't dropped a point this season.

Despite making only one change from the week before, the first half was a slow start with both teams cancelling each other out and Darlington struggling to string a couple of passes together or just to have a period of being patient with the ball as everything was rushed.

After a goalless first half, Darlington started the second half and were awarded a free kick just outside the box and Jack Mortimer found the top bins to make it 1-0.

 This gave Darlington a heads up and started to dominate the possession and if it wasn’t for the Durham keeper pulling off some fantastic saves they would have scored more.

But in the 75th minute Durham played a long ball over the top and with a massive hint of offside they scored to make it 1-1.

This made the boys even more determined to find the winner and in the 96th minute a free kick was whipped in to the box and Archie Small reacted quickest and got a touch to beat the keeper for a late winner.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “Credit to the players for working hard all the way through to the final whistle, their heads could easily have dropped at 1-1.

“The points keep us on target for a top two place, and the lads need to keep producing good performances to ensure that we clinch that place.”