It's been inevitable since signing for Darlington last Friday. Ian Clark was destined to score the winning goal on his debut and so he did as Darlington beat Rochdale at Feethams last night.

He turned in a man of the match display during which he converted a debatable 78th minute penalty - which he won himself - and caused problems for the visitors all evening as Quakers recorded a 1-0 win for the third game in succession.

But Clark wasn't alone as most of his teammates were in-form too; Richard Hodgson inparticular was a thorn in Rochdale's side whose cause wasn't helped when striker Kevin Townson was sent off ten minutes into the second half.

Manager Tommy Taylor was reluctent to give his side too much praise, and was annoyed Darlington didn't play as fluently as he wants them to.

"I've just said to the boys that it doen't matter how we win, as long as we get out of the little rut we've been in," he said. "We were a little bit scrappy in the first half.

"We've had three clean sheets on the spin so we're doing the right things defensively, we've just got to do the right things when we're going foward.

"We had quite a lot of chances tonight. We created quite a few chances from nothing, from little deflections and that's no the kind of football we want to play."

On the penalty award, Taylor would only say: "Put it this way, I turned away to Mick Tait to talk about the poor quality of the cross. Rochdale have had their luck this season because they're at the top so they must've been lucky along he way.

"Our boys have had their bad luck this season so it's about time some went our way."

Hull won 1-0 at Feethams last month via a, somemight say, fortunate penalty award so it;s fair to say that justice was done last night.

Darlington gave all three new signings debuts with centre-half Gary Caldwell having signed from Newcastle United on loan yesterday morning while striker Dan Chillingworth also played.

Darlington bossed the first half and created numerous opportunuities in front of goal with Clark - not quite suiting Quakers colours having been such a prominent figure at rivals Hartlepool United in recent years - and Paul Campbell both heavily involved in the final third.

Clark started as a striker alongside Chillingworth before swappping with Richard Hodgson for the left-wing spot at the break, and in the opening 45 minutes the former Hartlepool midfielder was involved in many of Quakers' best chances, and will feel he could of scored in the first half.

One blistering, low drive was saved by Matt Gilkes while Clark also attempted a spectacular lob from 25 yards which would've been a great way to begin his Darlington career following his £10,000 move.

Campbell - who scored the winner at Kidderminster on Saturday - saw two close-range headers go close with the first going just over the crossbar and the second being blocked on the line.

Rochdale arrived at Feethams in second position and with six away victories to their name but were reduced to only brief glimpses of Andy Collett's goal although Quakers' keeper had to be alert to save a downward header from Clive Platt while highly-rated Townson blasted a shot into the side-netting.

Townson didn't see much of the ball but eight minutes before half-time an brilliantly-executed effort from 25 yards had Collett back-peddling before catching at the second attempt.

The second half started just as the first finished, with Quakers enjoying most of the possesion but chance after went begging with Chillingworth, Hodgson and Wainwright all wasted good opportunities.

Highly-rated Townson deservedly saw red for punching Campbell and from that point onwards it was only a matter of time before Darlington opened the scoring.

However, Quakers had to rely on a controversial penalty award almost ten minutes from time as Clark's cross hit Wayne Evans' arm. Although not an intentional hand-ball, Rennie awarded the spot-kick which Clark blasted home to score a goal which obviously meant a lot to the Stockton-born player.

Although Quakers were thankful for the spot-kick, Evans and his Rochdale teammates were justifiably furious as Evans had been stood just a yard away from Clark when the former Pool player kicked the ball towards his left arm.

Rennie's decision understandably incensed the Rochdale players who had to be restrained from confronting the Sheffield official at full time - but there was no denying Darlington fully-deserved all three points and their superiority warranted more than one goal, and shouldn't have had to rely on a controversial penalty.

MATCHFACTS

Goals: Clark 78 penalty mins (1-0)

Bookings: Evans (foul), Brumwell (handball)

Sending-off: Townson 55mins (violent conduct)

Attendance: 3,362

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)

DARLINGTON (4-4-2): Collett 7; Betts 6, Caldwell 7, Brightwell 7, Heckingbottom 7; Wainwright 7 (Convery, 70) , Brumwell 5, Campbell 7, Hodgson 8; CLARK 9 (Ford, 90), Chillingworth 7 (Jackson, 84). Subs not used: Finch (gk), Healey.

ROCHDALE (4-4-2): Gilkes 6; Evans 6, Jobson 6, Bayliss 6, McAuley 5; Flicroft 6, Oliver 5, Jones 6, Durkan 6 (Conner, 65, 6); Townson 6, Platt 5. Subs not used: Edwards (gk), Doughty, Duffy, Coleman.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ian Clark - Clearly eager to win over the Darlington fans, and he certainly did that.

Read more about the Quakers here.