CHRIS SENIOR hopes his Wembley winner will cement a new contract at Darlington.
The Huddersfield-born ex-Town player was the Quakers’ hero as they landed the FA Trophy with a 1-0 win over fellow former Football League club Mansfield.
Senior popped up late in extra time to clinch a 1-0 win for the North-East side from the Blue Square Premier, who are managed by another Town old boy, Mark Cooper.
The diminutive striker reacted quickest to head past Stags keeper Alan Marriot after Tommy Wright’s effort had rebounded off the bar as the clock struck 120 minutes.
Senior arrived at Darlo from fellow Blue Square club Altrincham last close-season, but his future at the club is uncertain, with the 29-year-old one of a number of players out of contract this summer.
Cooper is set to sit down with those players this week to discuss their futures, and Senior hopes his heroics might persuade his manager to keep him.
"The win was massive, not just for the club but for Darlington and the area," said Senior, who has also played for Wakefield, Halifax and Scarborough.
"Hopefully it can give the club a boost and bring us a bit of support, some media interest and a bit of national interest.
"Perhaps that can carry on for next season, if I’m here.
"I’m out of contract but with luck, that might have gone some way to earning me a new deal."
Senior was a serious doubt for the trip to Wembley after limping off with a calf injury at Hayes and Yeading three weeks ago.
But after making an unexpected recovery, he entered the game as a 62nd-minute substitute.
Senior came through the youth ranks at Town but was unable to force his way into the first-team and left in 2003.
