A goal up after 75 minutes, courtesy of an early Dean Deagle strike, but playing poorly; it seemed a carbon copy of the Esh winning game, but it fell depressingly to pieces. Here is the Darlington RA match report, which describes this encounter very fairly.

The RA came into this game with just one draw in the last seven games and away to a team who retain aspirations of promotion to the first division; this was always going to be a tough game for the Railwaymen, especially in the absence of a number of players in key positions. They passed the test with flying colours however and fashioned a victory on the back of an extremely good team performance. In the absence of gaffer Nick Harrison (abroad on business), assistant Paul Bowman took control of team affairs. Apart from Harrison, he was missing Sam Grainger, Paul Johnson and Tom Ptak all at centre back. So David Mitchell, who continues to impress, played at the heart of defence alongside Jimmy Muir who has been out injured for over 2 months. Alex Grocott kept his shirt at right back and Adam Sakr returned to the side.

The game did not start especially well for the RA. They found themselves a goal down after just 12 minutes. Brian Dodsworth made progress down the right and beat Ross Dow before clipping in a deep cross that found Dean Deagle unmarked at the far post. He had a relatively simple task to score with a header from close range. Despite this setback, the RA enjoyed good spells of possession and fashioned a number of shooting opportunities the best of which fell to Adam Sakr who was a constant thorn in the home defence. The whole of the back line played very well with Jimmy Muir marshalling his young lieutenants to deny Heaton anything else in front of goal and Matty Calvert enjoyed a relatively quiet afternoon. Muir was simply outstanding. In front of him, Louis Whensley and Neil Jackson bossed the midfield with tireless running and tenacious tackling. Whilst still a goal down at half time, there was a definite sense within the team that there was something in this game for them.

The second period followed the same pattern but the RA were not able to make a breakthrough. As ever Steve Allison chased everything and Ross Morrow's hold up play was very good - he just needs to find a goal from somewhere. Adam Sakr buzzed and fizzed down the left but the goal would not come. In an attempt to change things around, Paul Bowman made a double substitution on 67 minutes. Alex Caisley came on for Jordan Hanratty and Mark Sims replaced Ross Morrow.

Five minutes later the RA were level. Louis Whensley played a defence splitting through ball which Sims was on to in a flash. He outstripped The Stan's defence and lobbed the advancing Shaun Backhouse from just outside the box. The ball bounced tantalisingly into an empty net. Seven minutes later, the Whensley / Sims partnership repeated the trick with a virtual carbon copy of the first goal. With eleven minutes on the clock, the RA were in front and now had something to hold on to, although in truth Heaton had rarely threatened in the second period. Just two minutes later Adam Sakr put the cherry on the top of the cake with an excellent shot from the edge of the box. Louis Whensley chased a lost cause to the by-line on the left, kept the ball in play and beat his man. His pass found Sakr on the edge of the box. He ran from left to right along the line of the penalty area before unleashing a thunderbolt which Backhouse could only admire as it sailed into the top corner of the net.

After the heartbreak of the past couple of months where the RA have played well against very good teams and failed to get a result, there was palpable relief that they landed the three points here. Make no mistake though - they were full value for this win. Heaton are pressing for promotion themselves and are a good side. They simply came up against a side today who wanted to win.

Stan Team: Backhouse, Telford, James, Balmain, McGarrigal, Wear, Blakey, Johnson, Carr, Dodsworth, Deagle.

Subs: Smith, Wood, Davison, Fulcher, Wright. (unsure who was used)

Goals: Deagle 9.

Yellow Cards: Smith.

Attendance: 93.

Kevin Mochrie