DARLINGTON take their exceptional run of form to Tamworth this afternoon to take on a team that has also enjoyed some good results of late.

With eight unbeaten league matches behind them, scoring 20 goals in their last five games, Quakers are flying and have moved up to second place, one point and one place behind AFC Fylde, who last weekend suffered their first loss of the season at the venue Quakers visit today.

Seven days after beating an out-of-form Salford City, tenth-placed Tamworth stunned Fylde 1-0 thanks to nine-goal Dan Newton’s free-kick, and they are aiming for a similar upset today.

Darlington, however, are in confident mood on the back of last week’s 4-1 win at Harrogate Town, who were sixth when the game kicked off.

“We feel strong as a team,” said Quakers striker Mark Beck, who joined in the summer, having ended last season been with Yeovil Town.

“We’ve got some great players and I was surprised when I came here how good the standard is.

“We’re a really good team capable of playing some very good football and last week we did it against a good side who have been near the top of the division for the last few years.

“It was a great performance, especially the first half. To be 3-1 up at half-time against a very good side was excellent.”

Like Harrogate, Tamworth also have a new artificial playing surface, having installed a 3G pitch over the summer.

“If we’re winning and I’m scoring then I’d play on it every week,” added Beck.

“It’s different to grass in that it’s got more of a zip on it, so you’ve got to take extra care with your touch and your passing.

“A few of the boys had grazes, I had one too, but it is good to play on and we train on one, so we’re used to it.”

After good work down the left-wing by Josh Gillies, Beck nabbed Darlington’s second goal last week to take his season’s tally to seven, equal with team-mates Liam Hardy and Terry Galbraith.

However, the striker pointed out: “There’s a website that has me down for eight, so I’ll take an extra one if someone wants to give me it!

“I’m happy with how things are going. I was not happy when I was on four goals until recently, but the two goals against Worcester and the one against Harrogate means I’m fairly happy now and I’m trying to push for double figures before Christmas.

“I’m there as a target and to bring other people into play. I’d like to think I can do that side of the game as well, but as a forward your priority is to score goals.”

At 6ft 5in, Beck’s height means he is well-suited to playing as a target-man, though not being awarded free-kicks, despite defenders clambering up his back, has become a theme, leading to him regularly becoming frustrated with referees.

“I don’t know why referees don’t give the fouls,” added Beck. “Maybe it’s because I’m tall and referees must think I shouldn’t be able to be fouled, or I shouldn’t go to ground. Maybe referees just don’t like me.

“I asked the ref last Saturday why he didn’t give one in the first half, he just said that we were both at it.

“The penalty against Worcester was the first time I’ve had one given for me – it was about time. If you have a close look there’s always all sorts going on, but it doesn’t normally get noticed.”

Beck will lead the line today with manager Martin Gray likely to stick with an unchanged starting XI.

Former Mansfield Town player Louis Briscoe, who played for the Stags against Quakers in the FA Trophy final at Wembley in 2011, is in the Tamworth squad, Darlington played Tamworth in their most recent seasons in the Conference, losing 1-0 at the Lamb in August 2011 and drawing 1-1 the previous campaign, when Liam Hatch scored and Tommy Wright was sent off.