DARLINGTON supporters enjoyed some much-needed Christmas cheer, their spirits lifted with an unexpected 3-1 win against Harrogate Town, a victory that gave Tommy Wright his first win as the club’s manager.

He called it the perfect Christmas present as Quakers won at the seventh attempt since he was appointed, and in doing so hauled themselves up to 17th.

It came three days after a dire performance in losing at Gainsborough Trinity, a result that stretched Darlington’s miserable run to two wins in 20 games, Quakers starting yesterday’s match in the relegation zone due to Nuneaton leapfrogging them thanks to winning their early kick-off.

Yet Quakers cast aside doom and gloom, put in a gutsy performance of endeavour and determination – everything that was lacking at Gainsborough – to send supporters home happy.

“It was the perfect Christmas present,” admitted Wright, who spoke with frustrated fans at full-time at Gainsborough.

“We really wanted to give that one back, for the fans particularly as they’ve stood by us and been patient.

“We’re hoping that can be the catalyst for us going into the New Year.

“We disappointed a lot of people on Saturday and the lads hung their heads in shame with that one.

“We’d dropped into the bottom three before the game, so it became a reality and it probably helped us going into this game. The lads were focused and really worked hard for that result.”

Wright made four changes and again changed formation to 4-1-4-1, and it had the desired effect as Darlington looked more solid from the off against the second-placed opposition.

Dom Collins was solid at right-back and Josh Heaton excelled in the centre of defence, where he surely deserves an extended run.

Stephen Thompson, bizarrely selected at right-back on Saturday, returned to the left of midfield, a position more appropriate for his set of attack-minded skills, and it was he who won the eighth-minute penalty that put Darlington ahead.

After he beat Jack Vann on the byline and pulled the ball back for Dave Syers, Lloyd Kerry committed a late challenge on Thompson and referee Paul Brown pointed to the spot from where Reece Styche scored.

He also netted twice on his Darlington debut against Harrogate on November 24 in the FA Trophy, including a penalty, on a night Quakers lost 3-2.

They were firmer yesterday, however, the defence holding up well and the early goal set them up for a highly encouraging first half in which they caused the promotion-chasing Yorkshiremen numerous problems.

Darlington were able to maintain their good start, forcing several corners and a couple of penalty claims, but it became 2-0 midway through the half with Styche yet again the scorer after a goalmouth scramble following a Josh Gillies corner.

Syers hit the post and former Quaker Josh Falkingham inadvertently hit his own crossbar, before Styche stabbed home at close-range for his fifth goal in his third Darlington game.

Four have been against Harrogate - he’ll be wishing he could play them every week, and fortunately for him the teams meet again on New Year’s Day.

Wright said: “We bundled the ball over, but it doesn’t matter how you score them sometimes. We needed that second goal.

“As a group and as a football club we needed that goal to go in to really started believing that we could do it, and that second goal really galvanised the lads.”

It was not one-way traffic, however, with Town having a good spell in the five minutes before half-time without scoring, and there was an escape for Quakers keeper James Talbot when he failed to deal with a Joe Leesley cross, but Harrogate’s George Thomson volleyed the loose ball over the bar.

Soon after the restart Phil Turnbull, who had his most effective game in weeks, was inches away from making it 3-0. He Dispossessed Lloyd Kerry inside the Harrogate half, ran at a back-peddling defence before shooting low across goal, the ball rolling just wide of the far post.

Despite being 2-0 up, Darlington’s desperation for three points became clear when they began to sit deep midway through the second half, and losing Styche to injury was a blow.

Without the wily striker to hold the ball up, Darlington were on the defensive, and it was game on after 65 minutes when Harrogate pulled one back, a shot across goal by Jack Emmett turned home at the far post by Simon Ainge for 2-1.

But just when Harrogate appeared set for an almighty comeback, their chances were scuppered on 83 minutes when Warren Burrell was guilty of a terrible lunge on Joe Wheatley.

To loud cheers from the Tin Shed, which had made a din all day, referee Paul Brown dismissed the defender, and the ref had his red card out again soon after when Kennedy hauled down Saunders

With no intention of winning the ball, it was clearly the correct decision, and Thompson made no mistake from the spot, emphatically smashing the ball high into the net to wrap up the win.

Darlington hope for more of the same on New Year's Day when they start 2018 at Harrogate.