DAVID HODGSON may persist in warning that league safety is not yet assured, but with nine points between Darlington and the bottom two, the threat of relegation is slowly diminishing.

Last night's 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town at the Reynolds Arena lifts Hodgson's men up to 14th in the Third Division table with ten games to go.

In 1990, the Robins visited Darlington and left on the end of a 5-1 thumping as Brian Little's men closed in on the Conference championship.

And last night's clash was just as momentous as Quakers edged a step nearer to safety with their fifth win in seven games against a mid-table Robins side which had previously lost once in 11.

The visitors were given some hope when Gavin McCann pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time but goals from Barry Conlon and David McGurk proved enough for Quakers.

Quakers made a positive start and with just three minutes on the clock only the reflexes of Robins keeper Shane Higgs denied top scorer Barry Conlon, whose header from a Ryan Valentine cross was brilliantly tipped over the bar.

And moments later Higgs had to be alert again, this time pushing away McGurk's close-range header.

Quakers were firmly in the driving seat in the opening stages, showing plenty of will to attack a Robins side which arrived unbeaten in seven.

And they had a third chance after just five minutes. Neil Wainwright turned inside defender Antony Griffin, before sending his shot well over the bar.

On their first attack at the other end John Finnigan sent his effort into the side-netting from Griffin's pass.

But it was the home side who took a deserved lead through McGurk, keeping his place in the side despite the return of Joey Hutchinson.

The Teessider was recalled for Saturday's crucial win at Macclesfield, in the absence of new dad Hutchinson.

And it was McGurk who was first to react to Craig Liddle's knock back across the face of goal, using his knee to poke the ball past the hapless Higgs to put Quakers one-up.

Hodgson's men refused to sit back on their lead and, after a neat interchange of passes between Mark Convery and Conlon, the latter curled left-footed straight at Higgs.

With skipper Neil Maddison rested, midfielder Brian Close - who arrived on a free transfer from Middlesbrough last week - was drafted in for his full debut.

And the youngster looked eager to impress, showing the kind of grit and determination former Boro teammate Maddison, looking on from the stand, will have been proud of.

It was a beautifully timed challenge on the half way line from Belfast-born Close, which leaded to a well-weighted through ball for Russell but the former Sunderland man, match-winner at Macclesfield last Saturday, dragged his shot wide of goal.

After withstanding a spell of pressure from the visitors with half-time approaching, Conlon added a second on 39 minutes with a superb solo effort.

There didn't appear to be any real danger when the Dubliner received the ball inside the box with two defenders in close proximity, but after juggling the ball past Michael Duff and then John Brough, the 25-year-old let connected sweetly with a volley past Higgs.

The aptly named Duff managed to make some amends minutes later when he stretched to block Russell's goal-bound effort.

But for all their domination their was always a worry Quakers' eagerness to push forward would leave them vulnerable at the other end.

And with only seconds of the half remaining Cheltenham were handed a lifeline when Grant McCann pulled a goal back, lashing home from 18 yards out.

There was a further scare for Quakers five minutes after the interval when Matt Clarke's back-pass fell short of keeper Michael Price and straight to Damien Spencer. Through on goal and with only the keeper to beat, Spencer appeared odds on to draw his level only to send his shot straight at Price.

Top scorer Conlon - never afraid to attempt something special - was picked out with pinpoint accuracy at the back post by a searching Wainwright ball from the right, before smashing his volley over the bar.

Even with such a slender lead Quakers continued to commit players forward and on the hour mark Chris Hughes almost caught Higgs out when he looped his header over the Robins keeper, but unfortunately over the bar too.

At the other end Robins captain Finnigan tried his luck from range but his effort was deflected wide on 73 minutes.

Substitute Kayode Odejayi came within a whisker of levelling late on for the visitors but with Quakers defending with solidity, Cheltenham became the latest team to feel the wrath of a resurgent Darlington side, which is almost certain to be playing Third Division football next season.

l Striker Peter Duffield, who was close to joining Darlington from Boston last month, signed on loan for Carlisle yesterday and promptly scored the winner for his new club against Huddersfield