LEE GASKELL has caught the eye with some terrific goals since joining Darlington in October, and Tuesday’s wondrous effort was the best of the lot believes the striker.

He puts the goal in his top five ever scored, and unsurprisingly so having shown a combination of close control and accurate finishing to find the net in spectacular fashion.

Gaskell put Quakers 2-0 ahead against Matlock Town during the second half at Heritage Park, creating space by carefully taking the ball between two defenders and then curling home from the corner of the penalty area.

The goal has already been viewed thousands of times online, and Gaskell said: “Everyone’s been all over it on Facebook and Twitter, all my mates have commented on it.

“That’s probably my best one for Darlington and it’s probably in the top five of my career if I’m honest.

“I was able to take on a couple of players and rifle one into the top corner.”

Manchester-based Gaskell, sure to start tomorrow’s encounter at Salford City, added: “It came at a good time in the game as well, because it was only 1-0, Matlock were pretty decent and we needed a goal.

“It wasn’t the best of games for a striker. The ball was in the air a lot, and we weren’t getting it to feet, so I thought next time I get the ball to feet I’m going to try something different.

“It fell to me perfectly, I managed to turn the player and had a go – if you don’t try these things then they’ll never go in.

“I tried to wrong-foot him to grab a yard, it worked a treat and I curled one into the top corner.”

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No doubt he would love to do something similar tomorrow at Moore Lane, when he will have plenty of friends and family cheering him on against a team he knows well.

Several of the Salford squad are former team-mates, while managerial duo Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley were in charge at his previous club Ramsbottom.

However, there has been no communication with his former team-mates and managers this week.

“I’ll wait until after the game,” said Gaskell, whose house is only five miles from Salford’s ground.

“I know the managers and most of the players from my time at Ramsbottom. We have a bit of banter on Twitter, but at the end of the day my job is to score goals for Darlington and that’s what I want to do on Saturday.

“All my mates will be there, a few of my family will too, and hopefully we can put a performance on and get a good result.

“It’s a massive game, so hopefully we can go there and get three points. We’re on a good run of form at the minute and I think if we play to our strengths we shouldn’t have a problem.”

Johnson and Morley came to national prominence recently, their sometimes hostile approach highlighted by a BBC television documentary which followed Salford’s fortunes last season as they pipped Darlington to first place.

Gaskell, who had the opportunity to join his former Ramsbottom team-mates at Salford, said: “They’re boisterous lads, but they’re good managers. They’ve got a similar record to Martin in that they’ve had a few promotions after only a few seasons of managing at that level.

“Hats off to them, they’ve done well, but we’re going there to try and upset the party.

“I had a phone call off Johnno and I had to weigh up a few options. And then Martin came in and I thought the best decision for me would be to join Darlington.

“I’m loving it. We’re winning games and I’m scoring goals, that’s what it’s all about.”

With David Dowson having joined Spennymoor Town this week, there is likely to be a new striker in the Quakers the squad tomorrow with Darlington due to confirm their latest arrival today.