Impressive Argyle secure title in style

Darlington 1 Plymouth Argyle 4

Plymouth Argyle last night sealed the Third Division championship with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Darlington at Feethams.

Paul Sturrock's Pilgrims raced into a three-goal lead inside half an hour, with the Scotsman Marino Keith grabbing two goals after Michael Evans, the former Southampton striker, had opened the scoring in the 10th minute.

Ian Clark pulled a goal back for Darlington with a 34th-minute penalty, but the Canadian international Jason Bent settled any nerves in the Devonians' camp when he added a fourth goal just before the hour mark.

The Pilgrims' remaining target is now to beat promotion-chasing Cheltenham Town in their final match at Home Park on Saturday and reach 102 points, equalling the bottom division's record set by Swindon Town in 1986.

Darlington: Porter; Brumwell (Campbell, h-t), C Liddle, McGurk, Heckingbottom, Convery (Rundle, h-t), Ford, Atkinson, Hodgson (Sheeran, h-t), Wainwright, Clark. Substitutes not used: Harper, Bett.

Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu; Worrell, Wotton, Coughlan, Beswetherick, Bent, Adams, Hodges (Sturrock, 88), Evans (McGlinchey, 87), Stonebridge (Phillips, 87), Keith. Substitutes not used: McCormick (gk), Taylor.

Referee: F Stretton (Nottingham).