Ashton United 1 Darlington 2.

Darlington went top of the table thanks to a last gasp winner by Graeme Armstrong at Ashton United tonight.

The game was very tight in the first 25 minutes and neither defence gave much away. Darlington keeper Peter Jameson saved from Dale Johnson, while Jeff King put a free kick wide for the hosts.

So after such a quiet opening, it was a surprise when Ashton took the lead on 34 minutes, when Martin Pilkington controlled a long ball and confidently fired past Jameson.

The goal stung Darlington into action. Stephen Thompson put a good effort over the bar, Lee Gaskell fired straight at Ashton keeper Paul Phillips, and Thompson had another chance cleared off the line.

Quakers recovered in the second half, and equalised when Stephen Thompson crossed from the left for Nathan Cartman to head his seventh goal of the season at the far post.

[caption id="attachment_14016" align="alignnone" width="300"] Nathan Cartman celebrates his equaliser[/caption]

Quakers nearly took the lead, but Thompson’s shot was well saved by Phillips.

Quakers were nearly caught napping when Dale Johnson bust through, but he blazed his shot well wide. However, there was an element of doubt when Cartman netted with another header, but the assistant ruled the goal out for offside.

Adam Mitchell found the side netting with a good effort as Quakers continued to press late in the game, and they got their rewards in stoppage time when sub Graeme Armstrong forced home a Mitchell corner.

Darlington:

Jameson, Gibbons, Galbraith, Scott, Burgess, White, Mitchell (sub Youhill 90), Turnbull, Gaskell (sub Armstrong 80 mins) , Cartman, Thompson (sub Callaghan 80).

Subs not used: Stephenson, Provett

[caption id="attachment_14017" align="alignnone" width="300"] Graeme Armstrong scores the winner[/caption]

pics by Tim Hickman

Premier Division

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS     GD

Darlington                             15        9          2          4          32        17        29        +15

Blyth                                       14        9          2          3          25        15        29        +10

Stourbridge                            14        8          3          3          28        21        27        +7

Nantwich                                15        7          5          3          45        27        26        +18

Sutton Coldfield                      15        7          5          3          22        20        26        +2

Buxton                                    13        8          1          4          20        13        25        +7

Workington                             13        6          5          2          20        12        23        +8

Salford City                             12        7          2          3          17        12        23        +5

Matlock                                   15        6          3          6          20        23        21        -3

Barwell                                    13        6          2          5          26        18        20        +8