A series of postponements had been a factor in Quakers losing top spot at the beginning of the year, but they reclaimed first position by taking three points from their midweek rearranged fixture thanks to goals by Nelson Mota, Graeme Armstrong and Stephen Thompson.

Manager Martin Gray had made only one change from the side that defeat Ossett Town 5-0 last weekend, David Dowson coming into the team, and he had a shot cleared off the line before Padiham’s Bobby Langford opened the scoring.

But Mota levelled from close-range just before half-time with the Frenchman’s first goal for the club, the winger firing home following a precise cross by Adam Mitchell.

In the final ten minutes, after a Gary Brown long throw flicked on by Liam Hatch, Graeme Armstrong fired Darlington ahead and then Stephen Thompson put the gloss on proceedings with a long-range strike to make it 3-1.

Goals: Langford (25, 1-0) Mota (45, 1-1), Armstrong (82, 1-2) Thompson (84, 1-3)

Bookings: Ross (68, foul)

Referee: Matthew Parry

Attendance: 320

Padiham (4-5-1): Davis; Ross, Murphy, Young, Grice; Haley (Tricket 70), Wilkins, Turner, Sharples, Langford; Omerod. Subs (not used): Overson, Gibson, Scott, Burgess

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; A Mitchell, Brown, White, Scott; Mota (Hatch 77), Portas, Galbraith, Thompson (Hunter 87); Cartman, Dowson (Armstrong 57). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Scarr