MARK BECK admits he was pleased to become Darlington’s first scorer at Blackwell Meadows, aware that he has written his name into the club’s history books.

The striker opened the scoring only seven minutes into Quakers’ homecoming on Boxing Day, the first of his two goals in a 3-2 win over Halifax Town.

The second goal was more eye-catching, rifled home after a pass by Terry Galbraith, and while the first was merely a tap-in Beck knows which one was of more significance.

“My uncle had said to me before the game that if I score first it’ll go down in history. It’s a nice thing to say, that I scored the first goal at Blackwell," said the forward.

“The win was the main thing, that was most important, but the goal is set in stone now, it’s in the records and once my playing days are over I’ll be always be able to say I got it.

“I found myself with a bit of space in the box and luckily Phil Turnbull’s cross through to me and I tapped it in.

“I was pleased with the second goal. It was a nicely-weighted ball by Tez. I took a touch, didn’t really look at the goal as I had a good idea where it was, and stuck it into the corner right in front of Tin Shed.

“It was probably the best goal I’ve scored for Darlington as most of them are tap-ins or headers! I scored a half-volley against Worcester, but this was probably better as it was at Blackwell Meadows.”

The match was the first view Darlington’s players had of Blackwell. A plan to train there on Christmas Eve was abandoned when Quakers could not access the premises, and Beck said: “It was a bit strange, our first game.

"The gaffer brought us in early on the day of the game to get used to our surroundings. If we’re going to play like that then we’ll make it our home no problem.”

Beck also scored twice for fourth-placed Quakers in their final match at Heritage Park earlier this month, a 2-2 draw with Salford City.

“I’m on 11 now so I’m pleased with that,” added Beck, who will look for more goals on New Year’s Day when Darlington travel to Halifax for the first time since November 2001.

“My maintain objectives this season were to play as many games as I could and to get 20 goals, so to be around the halfway point with 11 is not bad.

“It’s unusual to be playing them again so soon, it’s like the play-offs. I’ve not done this before, but we go into the second game knowing that if we put in the same performance and nullify their threat then we stand a good chance.”