ASSISTANT boss Mick Tait is confident Darlington's forwards can produce the goods in the Third Division next season.

The Quakers have five strikers vying for only two positions and Gary Bennett's number two believes that the battle will push his side up the table.

Although pre-season is only one game old - the Quakers play their second against Blyth Spartans at Croft Park (kick-off 7.45) tonight - Tait is convinced he has seen plenty of positive signs from his frontmen.

"We have now got Clint Marcelle, Kirk Jackson, Adam Marsh and Barry Conlon as well as the injured Glenn Naylor competing up there," said Tait.

"So that should give all of them players the incentive to perform as they will know it will be difficult to keep their place.

"If we can get all of them to play as we know they can then that will give us the encouragement to push forward.

"All of those five players can provide us with goals, we know that, and that is why they are here."

The match with Blyth this evening is Darlington's final game of a three-team tournament that also includes Ayr United.

On Wednesday the Scottish outfit overcame Darlington 3-2 after racing into a three goal lead, and Tait took encouragement from his players' second half performance.

Adam Marsh scored the Feethams club's first goal with a fine header and Tait has been pleased with the former non-league Worksop star's workrate since returning for training.

"Marsh looked sharp against Ayr," said Tait.

"There again the lad always does look sharp.

"If we can keep building up his fitness and do the same with the rest of the lads we should be OK come the first game of the season at Southend (on August 11)."

Another player who Tait believes will come good for Gary Bennett's side is summer signing Barry Conlon.

The 22-year-old signed from York, for a fee believed to be in the region of £50,000, made his first appearance in a white shirt against Ayr.

And Tait insists there is a lot to come from the 6ft 2in forward.

"He is still settling in really but already he is showing good signs," said Tait.

"It's all about fitness at the moment but he sees Darlington as a great opportunity and I am convinced he will do well for us."

Former Boro man Neil Maddison missed the Ayr game through iinjury but Tait added: "He ( Maddison) has fitted in well and the squad is looking well."

Read more about the Quakers here.