He was one of three changes to the side which drew 1-1 at Radcliffe Borough in midweek with Jordan Robinson and Alan White also starting and all made an impact as Darlington returned to winning ways.

Purewal has been missing during a six-game winless run, but he scored against Ossett Town on 29 minutes, nicking in ahead of the keeper by intercepting a poor pass in the home side’s defence.

And two minutes later his pass into Graeme Armstrong’s led to the second goal, his strike-partner keeping his cool to slot past the keeper in off the post after being one-on-one with Brad Dixon.

The two goals in three minutes was a body blow Ossett never recovered from and Quakers were comfortable for the remainder of a win that sees them move three places up to sixth.

Adam Mitchell had a free-kick saved early in the second half, while substitute Liam Hatch put the ball out of the ground three times when attempting to add Quakers’ third goal.

The closest Darlington came to conceding a goal as when they conceded a free-kick inside their own penalty area, punishment for keeper Peter Jameson handling a Leon Scott back-pass. Ossett took it quickly, six yards from goal, and Darlington defended it well during their first clean sheet in four games.

Manager Martin Gray was satisfied with the display, saying: “What is pleasing is that I asked for a 90 minute performance and I got it. We’ve not been consistent enough recently and had two good 45 minutes together, but I thought we controlled the game.

“I was really pleased with the first half and asked for more of the same in the second half. We were in control and kept a clean sheet."

Gray’s side are next in action on Wednesday against Harrogate RA at Heritage Park, when the manager expects to have a new signing in his ranks.

After today's match he said: "We’ve got a new player coming in for Wednesday, a new addition for our squad who we should be signing tomorrow."

Goals: Purewal (29, 0-1), Armstrong (31, 0-2)

Bookings: Ricketts (69, foul)

Referee: Duncan Carratt

Ossett Town (4-4-2): Dixon; Akeister, N Wood, Connor, Jeff, Ricketts, Armstrong (Curtis 55), Patterson, Merris; Bordman, C Wood (Chambers 54). Subs (not used): O’Neill, Whiteley, Davies

Darlington: Jameson; Brown, White, Hunter, Scott; A Mitchell, Robinson, Portas, Thompson; Armstrong (Hatch 67), Purewal (Fisher 79). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Reed

Match report courtesy of the Northern Echo