“THERE was no chance of me coming off!”

So said York City’s Scott Barrow after a lunging challenge threatened to cut short his Darlington debut as they travelled to relegation rivals King’s Lynn Town on Saturday.

The 35-year-old reunited with former manager Steve Watson at the troubled Vanarama National League North club in midweek, joining on loan from the Minstermen until the end of the season in a bid to gain valuable playing time.

An ACL injury sustained in City’s victorious Play-off Final kept the Welshman sidelined for the entirety of last season, in which he took on various roles behind the scenes at the LNER Community Stadium during his recovery.

Barrow made his long-awaited return to action in the Minstermen’s County Cup defeat to Guisborough Town in November, but found game time limited thereafter, prompting last week’s loan switch.

And he admits he relished being back on the pitch as he kept a vital clean sheet for the Quakers, earning a National League North Team of the Week inclusion along the way.

“It was my first game back in competitive action for about 18 months, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” he enthused to the club.

“The scenes at the end, I haven’t had that feeling for 18 months, and to see the crowd in the far corner, I thought that they were brilliant.

“Their reaction and the way that they were celebrating, it was a fantastic day for the club.”

The left-back came close to opening his Darlington account with a characteristic long-range strike on the half-volley, forcing an outstanding save from Paul Jones midway through the opening half.

“That’s what I’m about,” he laughed. “I never score tap-ins, I always score from long distance!

“As I saw the ball bounce, I was going to take a touch, but it sat up nicely and I hit it.

“It was going into the top corner, and the ‘keeper saved it - it was a great save - but hopefully I get a few more like that and hopefully it’ll go in next time.”

Barrow’s Darlington debut ended a period of 20 months away from competitive action, and he was keen to make sure that he played the full 90 minutes for Watson’s side.

A tackle in the 84th minute left the experienced defender needing treatment, but it was never in his mind to come off the pitch before the final whistle.

“I went in, I was going to get there in that tackle and my bad knee gave way and my left knee got stuck in the turf.

“It looked a bit awkward and my bad knee was hurting.

“But I said to the physio ‘have we used the three subs?’ and he said yes. I said that there was no chance of me coming off and I played through it.

“I thanked Lids [Ben Liddle] as well, he slotted in alongside me to help me out at the end.

“But I wasn’t going to come off. All of my career I’ve played through pain, and that’s what I did when I did my knee for York.

“The remaining games of the season, I played through pain in my left knee and I did my right knee, but that’s me to a tee - I want to play football.

“I’m at Darlo now, I want to play for the badge and give it my all every week.

“There’s no better feeling than to say it’s my first game back in 18 months, a 1-0 win and clean sheet, there’s no better feeling.”