Darlington manager Gary Bennett is delighted with the immediate impact of new signing Danny Mellanby.

The 20-year-old celebrated his move to Feethams from Bishop Auckland with a last-ditch equaliser at Queen of the South on Wednesday - and gained glowing praise from his new manager.

"Danny has looked very sharp since he came to us for pre-season," he said. "He was with us last season for a week, but he is a lot stronger and sharper now and looks as if he can do well."

Mellanby was part of the squad which yesterday made the trip to the south of Ireland, where they will play Waterford tonight, Dublin City on Sunday and Bray on Monday.

Bennett is also thinking of making a move for another non-League player in, Durham City midfielder Gary Pearson, who came on with Mellanby as substitute in the game on Wednesday.

Pearson, who started his career at Nottingham Forest and was handed a trial at Hartlepool in 1996 after being freed by Sheffield United, also travelled to Ireland yesterday, and Bennett said: "He wins the ball well and is a good strong lad. We might need somebody like him."

Bennett, however, won't be signing French striker Abdu Taranga.

The Quakers boss used the Frenchman in a couple of reserve games, and after the game at Whitby on Tuesday, decided that he will not be following up his initial interest and Taranga returned to France yesterday.

Despite Wednesday's game almost ending in embarrassment, Bennett remained upbeat.

"I thought we dominated the first half and played some good football," he said. "We passed the ball around well, and carved them up, but sometimes our final ball was lacking or the ball got stuck between our feet.

"I was pleased with the performance. We made a couple of changes in the second half and lost our momentum a little bit. We didn't have a good cutting edge, but I'm sure it will come with more matches.

"All the players who are coming with us to Ireland will be in action. Some will be playing 45 minutes, or a full 90."

Defender Adam Reed misses the trip, as he required four stitches in a head injury near the end of the game at Palmerston Park. Keeper Andy Collett has a slight knock but should be involved. Second choice keeper Frank Van Der Geest is missing, as his wife is having a baby.

New signing Simon Betts and defender Paul Heckingbottom are added to the party.

Director of Football Luke Raine, is hoping for a surge of season ticket sales before the new season gets underway.

Sales are around the 1300 mark, and Raine said: "The sales aren't much different from last season, but we are hoping that fans will buy tickets for this season, as they will then be entitled to a free ticket when we play in the new stadium."

* Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale last night defiantly stated David O'Leary is committed to the Elland Road cause - so dismissing speculation linking the Irishman with a move to Manchester United to replace the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson.

He said: "As far as I'm concerned, I don't care who is the next manager of Manchester United.

''I just care about who is the best man for the Leeds United job and we've got him!''

Read more about the Quakers here.