It was a day of firsts at Feethams on Saturday as Tommy Taylor enjoyed his first home game in charge.

Beating Oxford brought Darlington a first three-point haul in nine matches, a first clean sheet in seven games, and Taylor's first signing, Brian Healy, brought in on a short-term contract 24 hours previously, scored the only goal.

Aged 32, the strike was the first Healy had scored with his head.

Taylor admitted there was room for improvement after seeing Andy Collett again pull off several vital saves.

"In the first half we were rubbish," was Taylor's blunt assessment.

"I just said 'go out there and enjoy the game, this is your first home game with me, go out there and show the people what we've been working on.

"In the first half I might as well have not been there. But after we'd sorted them out in the dressing room at half-time we caught Oxford offside a few times, and what we've been doing in training at the back worked out very well for us.

"Andy's an outstanding goalkeeper. We've got some very good players - they're just not all playing to their full potential, but I'm pleased Andy was.

"We showed a bit more bite, especially in midfield, in the second half.

"The boys got stuck in, got close to people. Even Wainwright was making tackles, which was nice to see. We'll have to wash his shorts now."

Neither side looked particularly solid at the back as both created opportunities throughout the game.

Oxford, and Paul Moody in particular, will be kicking themselves for not taking all three points, as they forced more clear-cut chances.

The first 45 minutes saw Oxford carve up the home defence on several occasions, with Manny Omoyinmi demonstrating why he was deemed good enough for Premiership duty not three years ago.

Moody got on the end of several crosses, but Collett was equal to every one of his efforts, although he would have been relieved to see one skim the bar.

Credit goes to Darlington for taking the chance to score when it came, which is something they have failed to do on far too many occasions this season.

Conceding an injury time equaliser at Halifax last week had clearly taught Quakers something about the value of defending resolutely during the closing stages.

The goal, which preceded a few thousand sighs of relief around Feethams, came nine minutes after Healy swapped a place on the bench with Phil Brumwell. Richard Hodgson, who enjoyed his most productive game of the season, played an inviting ball into the penalty area for Healy, who had to stoop to head past Ian McCaldon.

Not content with scoring on his debut, Healy almost returned the favour when he played the winger through with a flighted ball to the right flank, but Hodgson's shot was tame.

Hodgson's assist should have been his second of the afternoon having provided a perfect cross for Kirk Jackson in the first half. But as the keeper made his prescence felt, Jackson lacked the killer instinct.

"Kirk should have scored with the header," said Taylor.

"It was the old 'touch-turtle'. His neck went into his collar and never came out.

"I don't know if his bottle went or what, but we'll soon find out," promised Taylor.

Darlington must wait until next midweek for a home game with second-placed Rochdale before they can attempt to move further up the division as an FA Cup first round tie at Kidderminster awaits.

But with injuries, and the FA Cup transfer deadline having passed on Friday, Taylor admitted: "I'll have to play George up front on Saturday!

"We're without a couple of players, so I might have to fetch a couple of YTS players through to put on the bench."

Or maybe I'll even play them because we're right down on numbers. That's why I've signed Healy to get him in time for the FA Cup.

"I tried to sign another one but I couldn't get it done in time."

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