WINNING at Warrington this evening is Darlington’s task as they aim to take their season to the wire.

Only victory against the Wire will do if Quakers are to keep alive their automatic promotion hopes which would be over and Salford City crowned champions should Darlington be unable to complete a league double.

They were victorious over Warrington on the first day of the season, an abandoned match which Darlington were leading 2-0 until referee Danny Markham sustained an injury and Wire boss Shaun Reid instructed his players to leave the field.

The Evo-Stik League later fined Warrington and awarded Quakers the three points.

Their need for another three this evening is abundantly clear, as it would enable them to go into this weekend’s final league fixture at home to relegated New Mills hoping that in-form Salford slip up at home to Ossett Town.

Manager Martin Gray expects Salford to be victorious on Saturday, but will play a strong side this evening as he wants Darlington to continue their good form on the assumption that they will be in the play-offs.

Quakers won six in a row before Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Lancaster City.

“The players have had an outstanding season and we’ve got to make sure that we stick together and stay focused on what we’ve got to do now,” said Gray.

“We’ll go into the play-offs in good form and we’ve got to make sure that we maintain it.

“We couldn’t do anymore as a team or as manager to win on Saturday. You load the box, you create chances, you have one-on-ones. You have to take your chances, we’ve done it all season, and on Saturday we were able to break them down and but we couldn’t beat the keeper.”

Goalkeeper Peter Jameson was sent off for a professional foul in the dying stages on Saturday, meaning he will serve a one-match ban which starts on May 2 – the day of the play-off final.

As understudy Mark Bell’s first team action this season been only a couple of cup games, he will be given a run-out on Saturday in case Darlington reach the final of the play-offs.

Gray added: “Peter will miss the final if we get there and it’s disappointing because he’s played all season and what would be the biggest game of the season, hopefully, he won’t be taking part.

“Fortunately we’ve got an outstanding No. 2 keeper who has supported Peter all season and acted brilliantly as the reserve. I hope he’s in goal in our final match.”