WARRINGTON Town fell to a fourth successive home defeat as they went down 3-1 to relegation-haunted Darlington.
Cameron Salkeld sealed the win in stoppage time after Matty McDonald’s late goal had given the Yellows hope of a comeback.
Salkeld had earlier doubled Darlington’s lead with a tap-in, following Aidan Rutledge’s early second half header.
It was another disappointing result for Warrington at home – they haven’t tasted success at Cantilever Park since the 2-1 win over basement boys Bishop’s Stortford at the start of March.
Darlington started the day in the bottom four, but finished it having given their survival hopes a real shot in the arm.
They started well, Rutledge leading the line well and his shot bounced off the unfortunate Salkeld and over the bar.
Salkeld was there or thereabouts for everything good that Darlington did, and he forced the first save of the match, Dan Atherton getting down to well to push his shot wide of the post from a Jarrett Rivers pull back.
The only time the Yellows threatened 17-year-old goalkeeper Matty Young, on loan from Sunderland, was when it opened up for Dec Walker to shoot from 25 yards out, his curling shot tipped over the bar.
Rutledge broke the deadlock six minutes after half-time, stooping to head home a teasing right-wing cross by Ben Hedley.
The Yellows had only created two half chances for Isaac Buckley-Ricketts and Connor Woods before being dealt what looked a killer blow eight minutes from time.
Tom Hannigan felt he was fouled by Andrew Nelson in midfield but play went on, and Cedric Main went on a direct, weaving run that took him in to the box and as Atherton rushed out, Main put it on a plate for Salkeld to claim a deserved goal.
That prompted a reaction from the home side, Woods shooting over the bar, before his cross was glanced home by the head of McDonald at the near post with four minutes to play.
They did have a chance to equalise too, substitute Matty Grivosti’s cross skimming off the face of Buckley-Ricketts in the centre of the box.
But Darlington soon eased the nerves of their vociferous travelling fans, situated in the new look away end at Cantilever Park, when Main slid Salkeld through and he finished left-footed in to the far corner off the inside of the post.
Warrington Town: Atherton, Walker (Eze), White, Hannigan, Gumbs (Wisdom), Woods, Williams, Amis (Grivosti), McDonald, Buckley-Ricketts, Clarke. Unused subs: O’Keefe, Pasiek.
Darlington: Young, Hedley, Platt, Lees, Lawlor, Liddle (Hatfield), Main, Barrow, Rivers (Cornish), Salkeld, Rutledge (Nelson). Unused subs: Curry, Griffiths.
