Darlington strengthened their play-off hopes after a moment of quality by Junior Mondal gave them the points at Leamington.

They have now lost just once in their last ten matches to move them to joint seventh, level on points with Southport but with a worse goal difference.

“I thought it was our best win of the season,” said manager Alun Armstrong.

“Leamington haven’t scored many this season, but they haven’t conceded a lot of goals either. To go there on their own turf and deserve to win the game, shows what we’ve got in the changing room.

“We would have been bullied a few months back, but the characters I’ve brought in have totally transformed this team. It’s got experience and desire, and the work rate of the lads was fantastic.

“I thought the pitch was bad. Farsley’s was bad, but at least it had a bit of give. The ball never settled, and because of that we couldn’t get some players into the game properly.”

Quakers started well, with Mondal forcing keeper Leamington keeper Callum Hawkins into a save, but the pitch made ball control and passing difficult.

Darlington had to make a sub on the half hour mark when Danny Rose limped off with a hamstring tweak and was replaced by Alex Purver.

At half time, it looked as if the pitch would be the only winner, but there were more chances in the second half and Quakers took the lead on 55 minutes.

Defender Ellis won the ball on the right with a great challenge, and found Adriano Moke, who helped the ball on to Jack Lambert. In turn, Lambert played a great ball over the top of the Leamington defence for Mondal to control on his left foot, and then strike the ball past Hawkins.

Armstrong said: “I thought Danny Ellis was unbelievable, he loved that game. He was kicked to bits, but he puts his head everywhere.

“The goal started when he won the ball and he got clattered for it, and got a lump on his foot. Adriano Moke was outstanding and ran everything.”

There was a turning point on 63 minutes. Leamington full back Dan Meredith picked the ball up in midfield and hit a thunderbolt from 30 yards that rebounded off Tommy Taylor’s crossbar and bounced to safety.

Leamington chucked everything at Quakers in the last 20 minutes, but Ellis and Jake Lawlor won everything in the air, and Taylor had nothing to do in terms of direct action.

Quakers probably need five wins out of the last seven to clinch a play off place – and with more collective determination and desire like that, then they’ve got a good chance of doing it.

Armstrong is reminded of a long unbeaten run that took Blyth into the play offs three years ago.

“You get on these runs when you find a way to win somehow. Once you get going, it’s an unbelievable feeling and you know what’s required. The lads are starting to believe a little more in the changing room. They’ve got the quality and the fans see that.”