Darlington today aim to collect three points for the second time in two days having finally been awarded a victory from their abandoned opening game of the season.

Five weeks since their fixture with Warrington Town was cut short after 30 minutes following an injury to referee Danny Markham, Evo-Stik League officials announced that Darlington have been given the three points.

They were leading 2-0 when Markham limped off and Shaun Reid, Warrington’s manager, refused to continue the game.

A league statement read: “At a Northern Premier League Disciplinary Panel hearing on Thursday, September 18, Warrington Town Football Club were found guilty of two charges arising from the abandonment of the Darlington vs. Warrington Town fixture on Saturday, August 16.

“The decision of the panel was to fine Warrington Town £1,500 with £500 suspended until the end of the current season. The panel also decided that the result of the match would stand with the score at the point of abandonment showing in all league records as Darlington 2 Warrington Town 0 and Darlington being awarded three points.

“Warrington Town have confirmed that they will not be appealing against the panel’s decision.”

Warrington chairman Toby Macormac, who attended the hearing, said: “The club accepts the decision made by the panel and this now draws a line under the incident and we can continue with season.”

The three points take Darlington up to sixth and boss Martin Gray says it is a boost ahead of today’s home game with league leaders Salford City.

“It’s good that justice has been done for a change,” said Gray. “It was a big decision that the League had to make and had they not made it then it could have had repercussions throughout football.

“It’s taken a while, but they’ll have taken legal guidance and I’m sure Evo-Stik will have been guided by the FA.

“We’re up to sixth and if we hadn’t dropped two points in the last minute against Farsley we’d be joint-second. But it’s still early doors, it’s still tight and it’s a good time to have a game on the back of some good news.”

Taking three points off Salford, however, will be difficult for a Darlington team struggling with injuries.

Gray pinpoints the issue as being the crucial factor in the team’s run of one win in six matches in all competitions, saying: “We’ve been very unlucky with injuries and have had too many key players out, although we’ve only lost one league game, don’t forget that.

“Injuries have meant we’ve not been able to play our strongest team for the last few weeks, so it’s a good opportunity for players to come in and earn a place. It’s up to them to step up to it and deliver.”

The midweek FA Cup replay defeat at Blyth Spartans saw Gray unable to select several first-choice players and he will hope they are available today against a side that have started the season by living up to their billing as promotion favourites.

Backed by Manchester United’s Class of ’92, who bought a controlling interest in Salford over the summer, they have brought in a number of former professionals with Football League experience and have made an immediate impact by winning five of their six league games, scoring 15 goals, although Spennymoor Town held them to a 0-0 draw a fortnight ago.

Gray said: “We’ve had them watched twice, including at Spennymoor when Spenny put in a very good performance. They’ve got goals in the team that’s for sure, as you can see from the league table.

“They’re building quickly and I noticed one or two players that they signed have gone back to their previous clubs, but they’ve still got better quality in their squad than they had last year.

“Everyone is aware of the injection of cash, there’s no hiding from it and I’ve heard the rumours about ridiculous money on wages so they’ll be expected to win the league.”

* Ex-Darlington forward Paul Robinson has left Blyth Spartans to rejoin Whitley Bay three days after being in the side that defeated Darlington in the FA Cup replay at Croft Park.

He moved to Quakers from Whitley Bay in the summer of 2013 but left for Blyth in November last year.

Spartans manager Tom Wade was disappointed to lose him and admitted he still had a big role to play at the club.

He said: “We are very disappointed that Paul has left the club. He got back into the team on Tuesday against Darlington and played well so he would have kept his place. We had a good chat and we wanted him to stay but he made his mind up and I respect that decision.

“He has been a pleasure to manage in his time here and he is a great lad. We wish his all the best at his new club.”

As well playing his final Blyth game against Darlington, Robinson also made his Blyth debut versus Quakers as he appeared in a Doodson Sports Cup match at Heritage Park last season.