Darlington RA surprised promotion chasing Whickham with their first ever win at the Glebe – and assistant manager Jamie Smith said “it felt like winning a cup final.”

The RA are now seventh in the table – their highest position for three seasons – and have taken four points from top six clubs Marske and Whickham this season.

“The team pulled together really well, and our fantastic team spirit got us through,” said Smith, who suffered a broken nose on the pitch during the game. “When Nick Harrison and I took over, if we were told that we would win away at Whickham, then we wouldn’t have believed them. I’ve played for the RA for several years and can’t remember winning there.”

Fred Huscroft, with his tenth of the season, gave the RA the lead from a Paul Freary pass, but Sam McIntosh levelled from a breakaway. Skipper Dave Elgie restored the RA’s lead with a 25 yarder, but straight after half time Whickham hit back with goals by Scott Robson and Scott Swanston.

But the RA fought back, and levelled with a left foot strike by Freary. Manager Nick Harrison scored from a setpiece, and sub Mike Colman cracked in the fifth.

Fifth placed Marske United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Horden. Danny Brunskill scored his 17th league goal of the season from a Lee Donaghie pass to put Marske into the lead, but Horden levelled in the second half with a strike by Gilberto Chapim.

Team Northumbria are also in the promotion hunt with a 3-1 away win at Thornaby. The Teessiders took the lead with a strike by Alex Marshall, but Graeme Cairns equalised for TN. Thornaby had strong penalty claims turned down before Graham Carrick, brother of Manchester United’s Michael, cracked in a 25 yarder to put TN into the lead. Lee Scott scored a third late in the game.

Crook have slipped out of the promotion race after losing 3-2 at home to Hebburn. Former West Brom player Stuart Nicholson scored twice in the first half hour to put Hebburn 2-0 up, but Andy Appleby pulled a goal back at the start of the second half. He also hit a post before David Dormand made it 3-1 to Hebburn. Darren Kokes scored a very late consolation for Crook.

Chester-le-Street lost 4-2 at home to Whitehaven after being 2-0 up at half time. Chester led with goals by Nick Kane and Ben Johnson, but in the second half their defending let then down badly, and they gave away two of the four goals they conceded. Darren Donald, Kevin Connelly, Malcolm Holliday and Craig Robson scored for Whitehaven.

Brandon, without a home win all season, won their third away game of the campaign by beating Birtley 3-1. They scored twice in the space of four minutes through Ian Pritchard and a penalty by Ben Harris, and after Scott McAvoy pulled a goal back after 75 minutes, Brandon’s Steve Fothergill marked his return to the club with a goal in the last minute, The games at Gillford Park, Morpeth and North Shields were all postponed because of waterlogged pitches.