The end is surely nigh for goalshy Peterborough Sports after Darlington defeat

A fourth straight National League North home game without scoring has left them five points from safety with just six matches to go. In reality the city side’s plight is even worse as most of the teams around them also have games in hand.

Sports are competing well, but they can’t find the moments of quality which can settle tight games. This one was decided by Tom Platt’s volley through a crowded goalmouth in first-half stoppage time. It consolidated the visitors’ position in the play-off places.

Sports had their chances before the only goal. A fine dribble and shot from top scorer Luca Miller required a fine save from Darlington ‘keeper Rory Watson and a Dan Jarvis effort from a Connor Wood corner was also kept out by Watson.

Centre-back Platt struck after a half clearance reached him 15 yards from goal and he fired home past unsighted Sports’ keeper Peter Crook.

Darlington almost extended their lead minutes into the second-half as Jonah Lowes curled a shot just wide of the target.

‘The Turbines’ responded with substitute Mark Jones firing from close range straight at Watson following good build-up play from fellow substitute Mustapha Carayol.

On-loan Watford centre-back Ian Kamga’s fine late challenge stopped Darlington scoring a second goal, but Sports’ fizzled out disappointingly as an attacking force once Carayol and Jez Davies had missed the target by inches.

Sports travel to Leamington next Saturday (March 28) for a battle between the bottom two.

Sports: Crook, Oakley, Stewart, Kamga, Wood, Whitehouse (sub Coulthirst, 86 mins), Jarvis (sub Davies, 63 mins), Cadogan (sub Carayol, 71 mins), Miller, Booth (sub Jones, 63 mins), Felix.

Unused Subs: Edwards, Fryatt, McLintock.

Darlington: Watson, Hedley, Platt, Lees, Barrow, McGowan, Fitzhugh (sub Allan 12 mins, sub Griffiths, 70 mins), Tweedy, Lowes (sub McLaughlin, 67 mins), Main (sub Rutledge, 82 mins), Haskell.

Unused Subs: McGrath, Barton.

Attendance: 460