....the latter`s 8-1 hammering of Chester FC in the Vanarama National League North last weekend.

However, as it turned out, Blackwell Meadows could have seen a similar scoreline on Wednesday night - but in the hosts` favour, such was the number of chances that came and went.

Both teams had won for the first time in 2018/19 last Saturday, but it took the prolific visitors only 5 minutes to open the scoring when some indifferent defending allowed Dan Maguire to beat Jonny Maddison with a fine finish.

Darlington had several chances to level after that and eventually did score 3 minutes before the break with a well-worked goal involving Dominic Collins and Simon Ainge, who set up Reece Styche to slip past Peter Jameson and record his fifth goal of the season already.

The second half saw the home side miss several opportunities to win the game and have a goal disallowed for an alleged handball.

Somehow, Blyth survived and would admit to have `got away` with a point in the end.