FOR the third away game in succession Darlington travel to one of the division’s strugglers, Gainsborough Trinity the destination this time, and again three points are a must to maintain top-five aspirations.

Quakers have already travelled to Worcester City (19th) and Stalybridge Celtic (21st) during a month in which three wins and a draw have bolstered chances of securing a place in the play-offs.

They might be sitting fourth by now had they won in midweek, but Wednesday’s match with Bradford Park Avenue, another team at the wrong end of the table, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, leaving Quakers in sixth after Halifax Town leapfrogged them.

Darlington had climbed to fifth after last Saturday’s win, which effectively killed off Brackley Town’s hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs.

“Had the results been the other way around you’d be wondering if we could actually get into the play-offs at all,” said midfielder Phil Turnbull. “Now, the ball is in our court and it’s up to us to go and do it.

“The win probably rules Brackley out and we’re going into each game now feeling that we’re going to win or we’re going to get points, and that’s invaluable at this stage of the season.”

Three weeks ago, at Worcester, when Darlington drew 2-2 having led 1-0 with five minutes to play, Turnbull was on bench duty, named as a substitute in a league match for the first time since joining Quakers from Gateshead in 2015.

Martin Gray’s decision came after a mixed run of results, but he sent on Turnbull after an hour and reinstated him into the starting XI for the next match.

“It was hard to take, but the manager makes the decisions and we got a result,” said the experienced midfielder.

“I spoke to him afterwards because I was disappointed, but it was probably the kick up the backside I needed.

“The pitch at home wasn’t suiting me and I was probably going too direct.

“I spoke to Brian Atkinson on the bus on the way home and asked him what I needed to do. He said I needed to get on the ball more and that’s what I’ve tried to do these last few games. Whether I make a mistake or not, I have to go and get on the ball again.

“I feel as if I’ve done that these last few games and performed better.”

Turnbull is a former Gateshead team-mate of goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, Darlington’s new signing who will start today’s match ahead of Ed Wilczynski.

Although Wilczynski has kept clean sheets in each of his last two games and done little wrong since replacing Peter Jameson in January, Gray says Bartlett’s experience during 343 games in his pro career for Hereford, Kidderminster, Gateshead and Hartlepool is a factor in his decision.

“He’s an experienced keeper and he brings that to the squad,” said Gray, whose new signing will work Sundays to Thursdays for Middlesbrough’s academy.

“The timing is good for both parties. He’s found himself at the beginning of a coaching career, full-time at Middlesbrough, but it still allows him to keep playing at a high standard of amateur football.

“I had a couple of meetings with him before he signed and now I’m looking forward to working with him.

“It’s all about keeping going forward. If there’s a player who you think will improve you, you’ve got to bring him in.”

Jameson, on the bench in recent weeks, yesterday joined South Shields on a month’s loan.

Third-bottom Gainsborough have not won at home since October 8, a week before they lost 5-2 at Darlington, and have lost seven of their last eight games.