DARLINGTON defender Chris Hunter is enjoying a new lease of life after a change of position which has helped the team cut down on conceding so many goals, though he admits it’s about time he started scoring them.

Tuesday’s win over Buxton saw the 28-year-old made his 111 appearance for the club, the last six coming at right-back after a positional switch by manager Martin Gray.

It’s where Hunter made his Darlington debut in 2013, but after spending most of the past two years in the centre of Quakers’ defence in December Gray sought to firm up a defence that been leaking too many goals.

The move has clearly had the desired impact as Darlington are unbeaten in six matches during which they have kept three clean sheets having managed only four previously in the campaign.

“It’s worked out great,” said Hunter, who will be in the starting XI on Saturday at home to Skelmersdale.

“We’ve got Gary Brown in the middle and he’s your typical kick it and head it centre-half, he’s been unbelievable in the last three or four games. Martin’s little change has worked.

“I am enjoying it and it makes it easier when you’re playing against someone like Kevin Burgess, who is very vocal, and puts you right if you’re not in the right position, plus there’s the coaches on the sideline helping you as well.”

Hunter also played right-back at previous club Shildon, and he added: “It’s always been a bit of both, right-back, or centre-half, wherever the manager wants me to play. I haven’t got a set position.

“I’ve got a lot more freedom, and obviously it’s a bit different because you’re able to get into forward positions.

“I’m working on it in training because I’m not used to getting nosebleeds up there.

“Fortunately I’ve got that pace to keep getting forward. If we can get the ball to Phil Turnbull or Leon Scott in the middle, they can switch play and I can get on the overlap.”

“I think I’ve only scored one goal for Darlington and that was in a pre-season friendly. This is my third year here and I still haven’t got a competitive goal.

“So hopefully I can get one eventually.”

Hunter’s successful transition to full-back has enabled Gray to send Lewis Gibbons, who had been first-choice earlier in the season, on loan to Consett, while on the other flank Anthony Callaghan has returned to Washington.

The left-back joined from the Northern League club in October, but has largely been used as cover having made only seven appearances, and he returned to Washington in time to play in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat to Newton Aycliffe.