BARRY Conlon's fourth goal of the season rescued a point for Darlington at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night and kept the Quakers neatly tucked in behind the Nationwide Division Three leaders.

Gary Bennett's men have picked up seven points from their last three games to lie fifth, three points adrift of leaders Luton Town.

Avoiding defeat at Macclesfield kept the momentum going after last Saturday's 4-0 demolition of struggling Exeter City, but they had to work hard after Lee Glover put the Silkmen ahead after 13 minutes.

There was the familiar tale of missed chances - Danny Mellanby spurning the easiest of them - before Conlon finally brought Quakers level after 77 minutes.

Finding the net wasn't a problem at Feethams on Saturday, with Richard Hodgson benefiting from good work by Mellanby to grab the opener after just five minutes.

But Quakers had to wait until just after the hour mark for a calming second goal. Mellanby got the final touch after Mark Convery pounced on Conlon's flick on.

Mellanby fired the third five minutes later and Mark Ford wrapped it up eight minutes from time when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to score easily.

Confidence must be high in the Quakers camp as they prepare to tackle new boys Rushden and Diamonds at Feethams tomorrow.

The visitors have struggled since winning at York City on the opening day of the season, but did pick up their second win when defeating Cheltenham 1-0 at home last Saturday.

A last minute goal on Tuesday earned Rusden a point at Exeter.