FOR a man who had just watched his side put four goals past their rivals for a play-off spot, David Hodgson was surprisingly solemn on Saturday.

In his quest for a top seven finish, Hodgson has fought an almost one-man campaign in recent weeks, while many fans have resigned themselves to League Two football for another year.

It's bewildering that Darlington are still in contention for a play-off place, given the fact that Saturday's 4-2 win over Lincoln was only their second league victory in nine games.

But, such is the impecunious standard of League Two this season, any team in the top half of the division can still make the top seven with only a month remaining.

They could move within a point of the play-off zone if they win at Rochdale tomorrow night.

And that is perhaps why Hodgson cut such a low-key figure at the weekend.

Immediately after watching his side score four second half goals, the Quakers boss quickly turned his attentions to Spotland.

He admitted: "I think Tuesday night is crucial. We have to win four or five of our remaining seven games to be in with a shout."

Scoring goals is like waiting for a bus where Darlington are concerned.

After netting just once in their five previous outings, they struck four times in 23 second-half minutes on Saturday.

Seven days earlier Lincoln had humiliated Grimsby 5-0 at Sincil Bank. But, after narrowly losing at Carlisle in midweek, Hodgson said: "The last 15 minutes of the first half were an indication to us that they were tiring on the back of two very difficult games.

"Those 15 minutes gave us some belief at half time that we could stick a goal past them."

Fans have been critical of Hodgson's constant tactical tinkering, but on Saturday it came up trumps.

You name the formation, Quakers have played it this season. At the weekend, mirroring Lincoln's shape, Hodgson opted for a 4-3-3.

Andy Cooke should have given Quakers a first half lead when he lofted over Imps keeper Alan Marriott and the crossbar. But, Hodgson's men soon found their shooting boots after the interval.

It took just three minutes for the floodgates to open when Guy Bates opened his account for the club.

Bates may not have had the best of starts to his Quakers career, but he was in the right place at the right time to nod his side in front, albeit with the aid of some hesitant Lincoln defending.

Ryan Valentine's clever free-kick fed in Jemal Johnson, who centred for Bates to pounce on Nat Brown's failed clearance.

But, for the ninth game this season Quakers surrendered their lead. It took Lincoln just five minutes to level through Marvin Robinson. Sam Russell managed to get a hand on it, but Robinson's header proved too powerful for the Quakers stopper to keep out.

If Quakers are going to sneak into the play-offs through the back door then it will owe a lot to the character of Hodgson's side.

Robinson's equaliser did little to deter Quakers when they restored their advantage just four minutes later. Refreshingly, where most referees would blow for a foul, East Yorkshire official Paul Robinson allowed skipper Matt Clarke to challenge 5ft 11ins keeper Alan Marriott for the ball and head into the empty net.

Like Bates, before Saturday, fans had yet to see the best of Johnson.

But his 61st minute strike more than compensated for his three previous games without scoring.

The impressive Joe Kendrick fed the on-loan Blackburn forward into the box and Johnson unleashed an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

Johnson added his second of the afternoon ten minutes later. After exchanging passes with Bates, the American's devastating turn of pace had Imps defender Colin Cryan close to tears, before firing low under Marriott.

Jamie Forrester pulled a goal back for Lincoln in the 76th minute.

The former Leeds striker was allowed time at the back post to volley past a helpless Russell.

Forrester came close to further reducing the deficit in the 86th minute when he headed Lee Beevers' cross narrowly wide.

The five minutes of injury time did little to calm the nerves and after watching Quakers concede two late goals to draw 4-4 at Chester in August, Hodgson admitted: "I was extremely concerned at 4-2. I was worried it might have been another Chester.

"Thankfully that didn't happen and I'm delighted we came away with three points."