IF work ethics are as imperative to Darlington's play-off aspirations as manager David Hodgson professes then the arrival of Appleby could not have come at a better time.

In 1996 Appleby was part of the Quakers side, which reached the Third Division play-off final at Wembley. The defeat to Plymouth under the Twin Towers was Appleby's last appearance in a Quakers shirt before moving to Barnsley in a £250,000 deal.

At the weekend Appleby was back in the black and white hoops, scrapping for every loose ball and driving Quakers forward from midfield 24 hours after rejoining the club from Oldham on a free transfer.

Without injured skipper Craig Liddle and the rested Neil Maddison, Appleby led Quakers from the off, having just as much a say as stand-in captain Matt Clarke.

The 32-year-old's performance epitomised a fully committed Quakers display against a Yeovil side which began the day six points clear at the top of League Two.

And just as he did nine years ago, there is every reason to suggest - on Saturday's evidence - that Appleby will be involved in the play-off mix in May.

"If the players give nothing short of 100 per cent there's every chance we're going to get something," said Hodgson. "When you have a player with Matty in your side you know exactly what you're going to get.

"He worked his socks off all afternoon and I think that rubbed off on everybody else."

Appleby was unfortunate not to cap his debut with a goal, when his 64th minute strike was chalked off for offside.

Alun Armstrong (61) added to Clyde Wijnhard's 13th minute opener, to end his nine-game goal drought, before Darren Way gave Yeovil some hope, pulling a goal back in the 81st minute.

The win takes Quakers back into the play-off zone for the fifth time this season ahead of this weekend's trip to Grimsby.

"We had total control of the first half and Yeovil hardly got a look-in,'' said Hodgson. "Every single player was prepared to give everything for us.

"It was only a matter of time before somebody got themselves in the box and got on the end of something, in which case it was Clyde.

"We started slowly in the second half, but once we found that competitive edge again we got the second goal.

"On our day we can play well and beat anybody. I don't know what I'll get from them next week, but I do know that my players have got the bit between their teeth and if we put the work in we will beat Grimsby.

"We've got the quality in the squad."

Such is the strength in numbers Hodgson's squad now possesses, the Quakers boss assumed the role of Simon Cowell in his own version of Pop Idol when he named his side on Saturday.

With a squad of over 30 Hodgson has plenty of talent to choose from.

"I was reading out the team and when it came to the subs it was like that pop show where you're waiting to hear if your name is going to be called out," said Hodgson.

"I could hear somebody say 'oh, I'm in' and then I called out another and it was 'oh, I'm in'. When it came to the fourth sub there were about eight players waiting to hear if their name was going to be called out."

Hodgson read out four changes from the side which beat Boston United seven days earlier, reaffirming his reputation as the League Two tinker merchant.

Quakers have remained unchanged on just two occasions this season, perhaps providing further clues to their inconsistent ways.

But with nine games remaining Hodgson is not about to change his ways, five years after missing out on automatic promotion with a settled side. Quakers occupied the third promotion place for 13 of their remaining 16 games, before slipping down to fourth and finishing there after a 1-1 draw with Hartlepool.

He said: "I was responsible for not making changes back in 2000 in the final ten games, believing that the players who got us there would carry us through. I'm not going to go down that road because I've learned from my mistakes.

"If a player is not giving 100 per cent I will change it."

A fortnight earlier, Hodgson substituted Wijnhard after just 31 minutes, not satisfied that the Dutchman was pulling his weight.

Five years ago, Hodgson would have persisted with Wijnhard, as he did with the then under-performing Marco Gabbiadini.

Making his first appearance since being hauled off at Brisbane Road, Wijnhard provided the perfect response, giving Quakers a 13th minute lead. After Glovers keeper Chris Weale saved from a David McGurk header, Wijnhard followed up to stab the ball home from close range.

The visitors looked for a quick response, although Arron Davies failed to trouble keeper Sam Russell when he dragged tamely wide minutes after the restart.

While Yeovil, with more play actors than the Civic Theatre, desperately attempted to trip their way level, it was Quakers, rallied by Appleby in central midfield, who looked the more assured in the opening 45 minutes, Armstrong and Wijnhard both coming close to extending the lead.

Kevin Amankwaah's attempt to earn his side a penalty with half-time approaching verged on the ridiculous - with better acting seen on the set of Crossroads - and the on-loan Bristol City defender was fortunate not to see a booking.

The strangely subdued Phil Jevons, League Two's leading scorer with 25 goals, was presented with a half chance when shot straight at Russell.

But after Darren Way flashed an effort wide, Armstrong doubled Quakers' advantage in the 61st minute.

On the counter-attack, Armstrong latched on to Wijnhard's flick-on on the halfway line and, despite the attentions of Amankwaah, the striker calmly slid the ball under Weale.

Minutes after the restart Appleby found the net only to have the goal harshly ruled out for offside.

Way pulled a goal back for Yeovil late on to ensure a tense finale, his turn and shot finding its way past Russell.

And for the second time this season Quakers were reduced to ten men against Yeovil when Wijnhard was sent off for striking out at Way.

In November's controversial FA Cup first round draw between the two sides - in which Bartosz Tarachulski grabbed an injury time equaliser - Brian Close was dismissed for deliberate handball against the Glovers.

Result: Darlington 2, Yeovil Town 1.

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