Elliott Sends City Top

Stuart Elliott - scored the only goal of the game

The home side started the brighter of the two teams, and the closest from a flurry of early chances was Neil Wainright's long-range drive that hit the outside of the post. City looked like catching Darlington on the counter attack, and Stuart Elliott was denied by a late flag for offside when he put the ball in the net. Ben Burgess was also denied when Matthew Clarke challenged him in the box.

However, Elliott was not to be kept off the scoresheet for too long, putting City ahead with half an hour gone. Jason Price centred the ball from a well-worked throw-in move. Jamie Forrester swung and missed it, but Elliott was on hand to hammer it past Michael Price.

City came desperately close to doubling the lead from a 60th minute corner. Burgess smashed a shot in from close range but it was somehow blocked on the line by Ryan Valentine.

Neither side really came close to changing the scoreline after that except for a disallowed Barry Conlon goal, and so, despite a frustrating performance, City ran out 1-0 winners to go top of Division Three after Oxford could only draw 0-0 with Lincoln.

City line-up (4-4-2): Myhill; Thelwell, Joseph, Delaney, Dawson; Price, Hinds, Ashbee, Elliott (Holt 83); Forrester (Allsopp 47), Burgess.
Un-used subs: Musselwhite, Green, France.