DUDLEY Kingswinford picked up four vital points as they stunned Darlington Mowden Park.

Josh Buggea’s late try to secure a deserved victory, which should go a long way to preserving DK’s National League Two North status.

With key men like Al Francis, Luke Greenwood and Gareth Bown all unavailable, DK’s fringe players stepped up, none more so than 19-year-old Buggea.

Third-placed Darlington made a dream start when they scored almost straight from the opening kick-off when Max Cannon out-paced the home cover defence.

Unfazed, DK were level after just five minutes through Connah Jones. The scrum-half took a lineout ball inside the Darlington 22 and shot through a gap in the set piece to sidestep two defenders and score a superb individual try.

DK were playing with a strong wind behind them and Jon Higgins slotted a 34th minute penalty for the hosts to led 8-5.

But they could not hold the lead until the break as Darlington hit back through winger Shaun McCartney, following a tremendous passing move. Grant Connon added the conversion.

Connon kicked a penalty to make it 15-8 early in the second half but DK were getting on top in the forward battle and put themselves back in the game with a superb try on 54 minutes.

Hooker Matt Humphries played a significant part in the score, attacking down the left hand touchline before the ball was fed to Ben Connett, who stormed in to score.

The missed conversion left DK trailing by two and they looked like being frustrated until the final moments, when Buggea picked up from another scrum and raced ten metres to score.

Darlington just had time to restart the game before DK secured the ball and gratefully booted it into touch to end a pulsating game.