NATHAN CARTMAN cast aside any doubts about his impact since moving to Darlington by saving the best until last, scoring during Saturday’s play-off final win in what was his best performance so far in a black and white shirt.

He was man of the match as Quakers overcame Bamber Bridge 2-0, putting his team ahead and then teeing up Graeme Armstrong to add the second.

Six years on from being in the Curzon Ashton team that lost a play-off final, Saturday was certainly a more enjoyable occasion for the forward, who joined in January from Harrogate RA.

He was warmly applauded from the field when substituted late in Darlington’s vital victory, and he said: “The main reason I came here was to win promotion and be part of a successful team and we’ve done it.

“Some people have talked about how much money was spent on me, but it’s not about the money, it’s about what happens on the pitch.

“I’ve had a bit of stick. I’ve not scored as many as I’d like, I’ve probably not scored as many as Martin Gray would like, but I’ve saved the best until last.

“I’ve scored seven goals now in about 22 appearances, only 14 starts, so I’m happy with that.”

Expectations have been high, understandably so after bagging 36 goals in 35 Railway games before signing for Quakers.

He added: “I’ve never thought I had anything to prove, I came here to do a job. I had a bit of stick on Friday on Twitter off one of the fans who didn’t get a ticket, saying I’m a waste of money. I think I’ve proved that wrong.

“He’s entitled to his opinion, that’s what fans pay their money for. I said my piece back to him and left it there.

“I had an overhead kick in the first half and I hit the bar in the second, I could’ve had a hat-trick, but I would’ve been happy just to win the game without me scoring.

“Six years ago this weekend I played in the play-off final for Curzon Ashton and we lost 5-1 to Newcastle Blue Star, so I’m much happier this time around.”

Cartman is not the only one who has taken time to adjust to his mid-season transfer, his four-year-old son Alfie, who was with his dad on Saturday when Darlington sprayed champagne as they received their play-off medals, has eventually switched allegiances from Railway.

“I’m the only lad from out of the North-East so it took a bit of time to settle,” admitted Cartman. “All the players in the changing room know each other from playing together for years or playing against each other. Coming into that wasn’t difficult, but it takes time to get used to it.

“Alfie enjoyed lifting the trophy, but he got a bit of champagne in his face!

“At first he didn’t want to come to matches when I signed, he said ‘I’m a Railway fan’. I bought him a Darlo kit and he didn’t want to wear it, I had to drag him out the house to our matches, but he’s made friends here now and he loves it.”