WHILE the nation goes to the polls today to decide who should run the country, Darlington supporters are being asked to vote for their favourite goal of the season.

Quakers scored some cracking goals in a successful campaign that ended last weekend in promotion via the play-offs, netting 118 times in all competitions – now it’s time to vote for the number one.

A shortlist of five has been drawn up and it features goals by Stephen Thompson, Amar Purewal, Leon Scott and Tom Portas, who has two entries in the running.

Supporters are asked to select for their favourite from the video below, with the winner revealed at the club’s annual awards dinner at Rockliffe Hall on Friday. Voting closes at 5pm tomorrow.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR DARLINGTON'S GOAL OF THE SEASON

GOAL ONE

Stephen Thompson v Mossley
A scorer of so many great goals in two and a half years with the club, Stephen Thompson’s strike at Mossley in November was a fine way to celebrate his 50th goal for Quakers.

After Alan White’s long free-kick from within his own half, Amar Purewal made an aerial challenge, the ball falling to Thompson and, with very little back-lift, nonchalantly lofted the ball over the keeper from the corner of the penalty area to cap a 3-0 win.

Known for his powerful strikes from distance, this was a different kind of goal for a player who will not forget a special strike which marked his landmark in style.

GOAL TWO
Amar Purewal v Bamber Bridge

A fine finish at the end of a move that began deep in Darlington’s half, though it sadly turned out to be Amar Purewal’s last goal of the season.

Away to Bamber Bridge in Dcember, Terry Galbraith’s punt to halfway was held up by Graeme Armstrong and the forward’s close control led him to playing in Purewal down the left channel, his strike-partner having broken the offside trap. Purewal showed acute composure as he strode into the penalty area and with the aid of a step-over cut inside two defenders and lifted the ball into the net from 12 yards.

It was his 13th goal of the campaign and proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory, but a week later Purewal sustained cruciate knee ligament damage that ruled him out of the remainder of the season.

GOAL THREE
Tom Portas v Bamber Bridge

Another goal against Bamber Bridge, the first of two Tom Portas entries in the competition.

Playing versus the team against whom Quakers would face three months later in the play-off final, Portas nipped between a clutch of bodies to take possession on halfway, driving forward in characteristic fashion before heading for goal down the centre of the pitch. On arrival at the edge of the penalty area, Portas kept his head down and lashed the ball into the net with venom.

It gave Darlington the lead and it was all his own work, only his second goal of the season, but he soon had another cracker to celebrate.

GOAL FOUR
Tom Portas v Lancaster City

Just 11 days later in Darlington’s next home game, Tom Portas delivered another entry for goal of the season on a night when a team-mate also found the net in stunning fashion.

Similarly to his goal against Bamber Bridge, Portas dribbled into enemy territory before laying it off to Stephen Thompson, whose weak cross was partially cleared, the ball returning to Portas around the corner of the penalty area. With two defenders between himself and goal, a cross to the far post appeared the most likely option.

But Portas caught the ball beautifully as he tried an improbable attempt at goal, striking the ball with the outside of his right boot, effecting more swerve than the camera angle demonstrates as the ball headed well wide before swerving inside the post at the last moment. Lancaster goalkeeper Mike Hale did not even bother diving.

It gave Quakers a comfortable 2-0 lead during a midweek fixture in an eventual 3-0 win.

GOAL FIVE
Leon Scott v Lancaster City

Mike Hale was Evo-Stik First Division goalkeeper of the season, but there was little he could do to stop Leon Scott’s thunderbolt.

Like Portas, Scott may not have been a regular scorer this campaign, yet his effort in a 3-0 win at Heritage Park was worthy of winning any game at any level, though the defending was of Sunday league stature.

A scuffed clearance hardly dealt with Adam Mitchell’s low cross, and then an under hit attempt to volley away fell directly to Scott 35 yards out. He chested the ball down, taking a further touch to take it under control and beyond a defender before unleashing a vicious shot into the top corner past the despairing dive of Hale who gave it a wave as the ball whistled past him into the top corner.

Scored with his weaker right foot, it was only Scott fourth’s of the season, but easily his most memorable.