THREE goals in two games, two of them last-gasp winners - teenage striker Mark Sheeran could hardly have made a more dramatic entrance on to the Feethams stage.

The 19-year-old climbed off the substitutes' bench and changed the game against both Luton Town last Saturday and Lincoln City on Tuesday night.

His goals ensured Darlington picked up the maximum six points from the two games and rose to 14th in division three.

They still need to improve their away form dramatically to have any chance of a promotion play-off place, but seven points from their last three league games represents a good response to the disappointment of their FA Cup exit.

Quakers left it very late to snatch victory in both their last two games, with Sheeran's cool finishing the decisive factor.

He joined the fray against the Imps with Darlington trailing to a Paul Morgan goal four minutes after half-time and headed back across goal for Paul Heckingbottom to equalise midway through the half.

Adam Rundle, another teenager making his first team debut, also impressed after replacing Brian Atkinson as both teams chased victory.

With five minutes of injury time almost up, Sheeran headed home Neil Wainwright's cross to continue the fairytale start to his league career.

He had quickly endeared himself to the Quakers faithful by scoring twice in the last ten minutes to bring the high-flying Hatters back down to earth on Saturday.

Steve Howard had given Luton an early lead, but Gary Pearson - another newcomer making a good impression - equalised with a powerful 25-yard free kick just before the half-hour mark.

The visitors went back in front on the hour with a stunning strike by French winger Jean-Louis Valois, but Quakers did not buckle.

Sheeran followed up well to score after Richard Hodgson's shot came back off the Luton keeper and then produced a delicate back-header from Pearson's chip to grab an unlikely winner.

The youngster's emergence is a bonus for manager Tommy Taylor as he struggles with injuries, suspensions and a crowded programme of fixtures.

Quakers visit Rushden and Diamonds tomorrow and travel to a resurgent Carlisle United for a rearranged game on Tuesday. Both will provide a real test of Darlington's burgeoning confidence.