AHEAD of Saturday's match at York City, Darlington have been boosted by two players committing themselves to the club.

Ben Hedley and Alex Storey had been on week-to-week deals after signing in September, but both are to put pen to paper on contracts with Quakers.

“We’ve agreed terms with them and it’s no more than they deserve because they have done exceptionally well,” said manager Alun Armstrong.

Hedley joined from Bradford (Park Avenue) and has been playing at right-back following the long-term injury suffered by Luke Trotman, while Storey arrived on dual-registration basis from Sunderland RCA when Darlington suddenly found themselves without enough centre-backs.

Josh Heaton had left, frustrated because he was not in the starting XI, and then Louis Laing suffered an injury.

But rather than being a temporary measure until Laing returned, the former Sunderland youth team player has taken his chance to impresses and has not missed a minute of the action in the 14 successive games he has started.

Armstrong added: “He played against us in a pre-season game for Boro and he did well but at the time we had Laingy, Josh Heaton and Terry Galbraith and I didn’t think he was better than what we had.

“What I liked about him was that he played for Sunderland RCA to keep himself ticking over, to keep fit.

“I got in touch with him and he was meant to be a stop-gap when Laingy got injured, but he’s been much more than that. He’s taken Josh’s place and he deserves it.”

Armstrong has also agreed terms with striker Gary Martin, though he is unable to play until January.

Galbraith has missed Quakers’ last two matches and is doubtful for Saturday due to a calf strain.

Armstrong said: “He is still struggling a little, so we’ll have to see how he is. I’m not going to rush him and make him miss more games when we’ve got a lot of matches coming up.

“There’s a couple of lads that have been ill, hopefully they’ll be alright for Saturday.”

*Darlington’s FA Trophy replay against Solihull Moors has been arranged for Wednesday, January 8 (7.45pm). It means their game at Guiseley scheduled for Tuesday, January 7 must be rearranged.