Winning each of their final four games would see Darlington snatch the title from Salford City, and manager Martin Gray is calling on fans to show their support this weekend as the promotion race enters the final straight.

Quakers face play-off chasing Mossley at Heritage Park, one of only two more league matches Darlington will play at the venue, they hope, before returning to the town next season.

Darlington Borough Council yesterday gave the go-ahead for a groundshare with Darlington Rugby Club at Blackwell Meadows, meaning Quakers will hope to say farewell to Heritage Park on April 25 when they face New Mills.

There remains, however, the prospect of a play-off match or two at Bishop Auckland’s ground

But Darlington are keen to avoid the prospect by finishing first and Gray says a big crowd this Saturday would be a boost to the team.

“We got maximum points over the weekend and the rest of the week is a chance to recover and focus on this Saturday,” said Gray, after seeing his team defeat both Droylsden and Scarborough Athletic at Easter.

“We’ve got two home league games left, if you’re a Darlington fan and don’t want to watch us now when we’re going for the championship then you’re never going to.

“We need 2,000 people in on Saturday making a lot of noise and the kid behind the goal beating the drum. It makes a difference, players rise to it, the players love it.

“I want to see the town supporting their football club, come and support us in a big game.”

Darlington are the best-supported club in the Evo-Stik First Division with an average of 1,026, and regularly take large numbers to away fixtures. Recent fixtures at Northwich Victoria and Scarborough saw each host club record their highest attendances of the season.

Mossley’s chances of reaching the play-offs suffered a blow last night when Spennymoor Town won at New Mills.

The result left Mossley, who have been in good form since the turn of the year, six points adrift of fifth-placed Bamber Bridge, although they have a game in hand, so know a victory against Quakers is essential if they are to remain in the hunt for a top five finish.

Darlington’s place inside the top five was assured with Monday’s 2-1 win at Scarborough, a game Terry Galbraith missed due to illness, explained Gray.

Liam Hatch came off the bench to put Darlington ahead, slotting home soon after emerging from the substitutes bench, and now Gray wants to see the versatile veteran continue to make an impact in the closing weeks of the campaign.

He said: “Hatchy came on and gave us some energy. He won a lot of big headers for us, he got us up the pitch.

“He was a big handful, everyone knows what he’s about and when he does that he’s effective. We need more of that from him in the last four games.

“He did well on Monday, well done for that, now do it again for the last few games.”

While Gray says he wants to see a large crowd behind his team on Saturday, Salford can be expected to be backed by a larger than usual attendance due to offering free entry for their home match.

They face mid-table Clitheroe, who on Monday lost 4-1 to already-relegated Padiham.