PHIL TURNBULL was true to his word after he finally got off the mark for Darlington, scoring his first goal for the club in sensational style.

He let fly from 18 yards, driving home on the half-volley after receiving an inch-perfect pass from Nathan Cartman in the dying seconds of a 2-0 win over Gloucester City.

The goal completed the victory and represented the midfielder’s first in Quakers colours since joining the club 18 months ago from Gateshead.

Turnbull had been promising supporters that when he finally scored it would be special and he was proved right.

“A few of the fans had been tweeting me asking when I’m going to score my first goal, I told them that when I do it will be special and it was.

“It was a good goal to break my duck for the club, the kind of goal you want to score.

“We broke from the edge of the box and I saw there was an opportunity to go forward as they only had one defender – I used my power and pace! – and as the ball came across I just hit it with my left foot.

“Five minutes earlier I’d hit a diagonal ball and I’d shanked it because the pitch isn’t great. But in training this week I’d done well with my shooting, so I just spanked it and it was a massive relief when it went in.

“I probably had time for a touch, but it just sat up nicely and I caught it sweetly on the half volley.”

A holding midfielder by trade, Turnbull, who turned 30 last week, is not usually one to be found testing the goalkeeper, but he added: “It’s not my job in the team to score.

“You want to score because you want to make a contribution. And after you score a goal like that you’re confident so now I can’t wait for the next game to come around.

“But it’s not really my role in the team. I’ve said in the past that as long as we’re winning it doesn’t matter if I don’t score, but it’s nice to contribute.”