In-form Zola swoops to down Darlo

Crewe put four past Grimsby at the weekend, but here was to be no repeat against resilient Darlington who held out bravely until a low angled drive from Zola three minutes from the end gave the Railwaymen the points. The first half was a tight affair but Lee Thorpe came close to giving Darlington the lead just after the break when his 20-yard drive brought a superb save out of Crewe keeper David Button. Minutes later Thorpe sent a volley inches over the bar as the Quakers looked to break through. Zola came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 59th minute when he fired a left-foot shot against the woodwork with Darlington keeper David Knight beaten. The game looked to be heading for a draw until Zola's late strike left Darlington without a single point from their first three league matches.