THREE goals and three points last Saturday lifted Darlington out of the Division Three relegation places and injected some badly-needed confidence into David Hodgson's side.

There has been a definite improvement since Hodgson returned to the club, but the 3-0 victory over York City at the Reynolds Arena was the first win of his third spell as Quakers' manager. It came in his fifth game back, ended a dismal run of 12 games without a win and pushed the club up two places to 21st ahead of tomorrow's trip to Cambridge United.

The manager has responded to his side's need for goals by pairing winger Neil Wainwright up front with Barry Conlon. The move began to bear fruit in the draw with Scunthorpe the previous weekend and both were again on target as the partnership really began to blossom against the Minstermen.

Conlon put Quakers ahead with a header from a corner after 11 minutes and Wainwright gave his side a two-goal cushion ten minutes before half-time with an excellent individual effort. Loan signing Craig James made sure of the three points with his first Darlington goal after 78 minutes.

But Quakers will have to take on Cambridge without Conlon and Valentine, who will both serve three-match suspensions . One-month loan signing Lee Matthews from Bristol City will take Conlon's place.