IF Darlington are to finish first in the table at the season’s end, it’s going to take something special, which is exactly what Phil Turnbull believes the team is capable of.

The midfielder is part of a settled team that is enjoying its best form of the season, Tuesday’s win over Buxton making it six games unbeaten, including five wins.

They look to collect another three points today at home to Skelmersdale, who are 18th and a team Darlington drew 1-1 with in September, but they would be disappointed with a repeat result, especially given recent form.

“I knew when I came here that the lads have a winning mentality and when you get into a winning run you forget how to lose,” said the midfielder, who joined last summer from Gateshead.

“Going into games at the minute, the team is generally the same which is good because any good team generally picks itself.

“There’s a buzz about the place that we’re going to do something special.

“I’m loving it at the minute, the games can’t come round quickly enough and when you’ve got that momentum you feel like you’re going to win every game.

“If you’re losing games you dread playing and you want a break, but when you’re winning you want to play every day. We’ve got that winning momentum.

“The games are coming thick and fast and February is going to be a massive month for us.”

February sees Quakers play another six league matches, the next after today being on Tuesday at home to Matlock, followed by a trip to promotion rivals Salford City in seven days’ time.

Turnbull added: “I’m 100 per cent confident in this team because the way I look at it I would not want to play against us.

“There are not many teams in this division who will beat us, they are going to have to play really well to beat us.

“The age of the team is right. Sometimes we play against younger teams, less experienced, but in our changing room is a team of men and I’ve got a lot of faith that we can do something special.

“Blyth are a good side, no doubt about it, and Salford are still in it, but I look at our team and it’s a team of men with experience. There are match-winners in virtually every position, goals come from all over the pitch.”

Turnbull has yet to net himself in his 25 appearances, but goal-getting is not a strong feature of his game, he’s more about retaining possession and keeping the ball moving quickly.

He added: “I’ve not scored this season, but when they do come they’re normally special.

“I need to contribute with a few goals, but I’m quite pleased with my performances at the minute.

“The way I play it would probably have been easier to go higher, but I’ve dropped down a couple of levels and I’ve got used to it.

“Something just clicked after one game, I think it was Hyde in the FA Cup, and since then I’ve started to get the performances that I want.

“If I’m brutally honest I’m not too fussed about scoring. I’d love to, but it’s not something I’m bothered about as long as we’re winning.”

Striker Amar Purewal will be on the bench today, making his comeback after 14 months on the sidelines after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

*The last 75 tickets available to Darlington fans for the game at Salford City next weekend go on sale today from 1.30pm at Heritage Park.

They are available to VP/500 club members, season ticket holders and DFCSG members.

Prices are £7, concessions £2 (60 and over), and under 16s £1.