Blyth Spartans 0 Darlington 2

Reid (12 mins, 0-1), Donawa (43 mins, 0-2)

Attendance 1481

Quakers won their third game of the Christmas holiday and their fourth in a row with two goals in the first half at Croft Park.

Sean Reid, on his return to his old club, opened the scoring early on, and then helped to set up the second goal, scored by Justin Donawa, just before half time.

But in between the two goals, keeper Chris Elliott pulled off two good saves to maintain Quakers' lead.

With this victory -- the third on their league travels this season -- Quakers are still in ninth place, but a point behind the play offs. Spennymoor are currently seventh and Boston eighth. Quakers have won four league games in a row -- Chester, York, Spennymoor and Blyth.

With Will Hatfield his usual busy self Quakers started brightly and put the Blyth defence under early pressure.

They had the first chance when Joe Wheatley swung a free kick over from the left that was partly cleared as far as Justin Donawa, who chested the ball down ten yards out and fired wide.

But Blyth nearly scored on 6 minutes, when Robbie Dale chased the ball down the right, stepped inside, and struck a low shot that was blocked by Chris Elliott on his six yard line.

Quakers regained their momentum, and took the lead on 13 minutes. Elliott’s clearance was flicked on by Donawa for Adam Campbell to latch on to, and after running into the box, he crossed for former Blyth player Sean Reid to head in at the far post.

Quakers responded with a Jack Lambert corner that dropped to Campbell, and his right foot shot from ten yards was deflected wide.

Campbell was then denied when a poor headed clearance dropped to him outside the box, but his shot was blocked.

Elliott then pulled off two good saves in a minute. The first from a right foot shot by Wrightson from ten yards, and the second a fingertip save from Thackray’s effort from the edge of the box.

A great run by Hatfield saw him find Lambert, who played a 1-2 with Wheatley that ended with him having a shot blocked.

It was 2-0 on 43 minutes. Reid cleverly sent Hatfield away down the right, he powered into the box and pulled the ball back for Donawa, who sidefooted home his seventh of the season,

Half time: Blyth 0 Darlington 2

The second half was not as open as the first, with Quakers more in control. Reid had the ball in the net again at the start of the second half, but he was flagged offside.

Donawa made a good run down the right and fired across goal, but no one could get a touch.

But Blyth should have got one back when a corner from the left dropped for Jack Sanders, who from a couple of yards out, struck the crossbar.

Quakers nearly got a third on 75 minutes when sub Omar Holness made a good run up the middle and pulled the ball back for Lambert who crossed to the far post where Donawa headed into the keeper’s hands.

Then a quick break from defence saw Rivers help a Lambert pass on for Reid to fire over the top.

At the final whistle, there were huge cheers for the players from the fans, and a chorus of "There's only Alun Armstrong"

Final score: Blyth 0 Darlington 2

Darlington: Elliott, Hedley, Liddle, Wheatley (sub Holness 62), Laing, Storey, Donawa, Hatfield, Campbell (sub Rivers 68), Reid, Lambert (sub Thompson 77)

Subs: Watson, Bascome.

Booking: Wheatley

Blyth: Hemming, Ritson (sub Amantchi 76), Hutchinson (sub Wrightson 27), Devitt, Sanders, Thackray, Scott, Hunter, Sweet, Mullen (sub Hawkins 57), Dale

Subs:  Amantchi, McKeown

Booking: Sanders

Attendance 1481