Darlington 4 Ossett Town 1

Darlington took their tally goals against Ossett clubs to 17 in three games this season when they recorded their first home league win in four attempts.

A four-goal win saw four different players on the scoresheet against Ossett Town, the same opposition that Darlington defeated 6-1 in the FA Trophy earlier this season.

Not since October 7 when Quakers beat Ossett Albion 7-0 had they won in the league at Heritage Park, and they looked like recording a similar scoreline against Town when they took a 3-0 lead by the half hour.

The first strike was a magnificent Stephen Thompson free-kick on ten minutes, fired over the wall from 30 yards. It had been awarded after Thompson was felled after receiving a Curtis Edwards pass.

Two goals inside three minutes put Quakers 3-0 ahead.

Terry Galbraith’s low free-kick from out wide, awarded after Bruno Pilatos was fouled, took a heavy deflection off an Ossett defender and in the 30th minute then Jonny Davis stabbed home after a Galbraith cross.

But Ossett were given a lifeline before the break when Callum Ward was allowed to score after Pilatos was caught out.

Ossett attacked down Quakers' right and when Steven Jeff crossed, Ward was free in the penalty area to head home.

The second period was a drab affair with Ossett, encouraged by Ward’s goal, making a game of it while Quakers gave possession away too cheaply.

They eventually made changes, sending on substitutes and switching to 4-4-2 which succeeded in putting Martin Gray’s side back on the front foot.

Chris Hunter wellied a good chance over after a Thompson corner, but Darlington sealed the points with six minutes to go when Amar Purewal scored a header in the final ten minutes after meeting a Nathan Fisher cross.

However, the low attendance was a disappointment. Although the crowd of 868 is well above the Evo-Stik First Division North average, it ranks as the second lowest Quakers have attracted for a league game at Heritage Park.

Goals: Thompson (10, 1-0), Galbraith (28, 2-0), Davis (30, 3-0); Ward (44, 3-1); Purewal (84, 4-1)

Bookings: Qualter (40, foul); Pilatos (63, foul); Wood (80, foul)

Referee: Marc Edwards (Gateshead)

Attendance: 868

Darlington (4-4-2): Jameson; Pilatos, Hunter, White, Galbraith; Robinson, Davis (Cocks 85), Edwards (Moore 70); Thompson; Purewal, Dowson (Fisher 58). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Johnson

Osset Town: Peet, McGrory, Fisher, Patterson, Qualter, Wood, Fox, Patterson (Kane 55), Ward, Eyles (McDonnell 76), Jeff. Subs (not used): Moke, Wood, Clarke-Adams