After a tight first half, two goals in five minutes just after half-time from Armstrong and Cartman put the Quakers in control.

Alex Tomkinson pulled one back for Barwell with ten minutes to go to set up a nervy finish.

However, Portas scored a brilliant solo goal to seal the win in stoppage time.

Martin Gray named an unchanged starting eleven, with David Dowson replacing Tom White on the bench.

The first-half saw a lack of clear cut chances for either side despite Darlington being on top.

A fantastic free-kick from Terry Galbraith mid-way through the half flashed across the face of the goal with both Armstrong and Cartman nearly getting a touch.

At the other end veteran striker Iysden Christie had the visitors best chance, but he fired well over the bar.

Cartman had the ball in the net just before half-time, tucking home after a cross from Stephen Thompson, but it was ruled out for off-side.

However, inside the first five minutes of the second half Darlington took the lead.  A short-corner routine saw Galbraith whip in a cross, Cartman appeared to be pushed over, but it did not matter as Armstrong smashed the ball into the net.

Just minutes later Phil Turnbull played a ball over the top of the defence which Cartman latched on to, before steadying himself to pass the ball into the net from a tight angle.

After the goals the Quakers sat back, but Barwell rarely tested Peter Jameson in goal. The visitors did pull a goal back late on, when Tomkinson was allowed to cut in onto his left foot and fire into the bottom corner of the net.

Darlington should have sealed the game when Dowson set up Thompson in the box, he hit the post and substitute Alan White somehow missed the rebound in front of an open goal.

Barwell nearly made them pay, when a header from a dangerous position went over the top.

Portas though secured the three points in stoppage-time with a great strike. He picked up a loose ball in midfield, drove through the defence and expertly finished with the outside of his boot to give Darlington a 3-1 victory.

Darlington are away to Workington on Tuesday night, before a busy bank holiday next weekend.

Darlington Team : Jameson, Gibbons, Galbraith, Hunter, Burgess, Thompson, Mitchell(Scott), Portas, Turnbull, Armstrong(Dowson), Cartman(White).