THREE eye-catching wins against clubs expected to be in race for promotion has lifted Darlington up to ninth and thoughts have turned to where this season could end.

Victories against Chester and York City were followed on Boxing Day by beating Spennymoor Town, who had not lost in 13 league matches, and Quakers aim to make it four in a row at Blyth Spartans.

It remains a transition season, however, says manager Alun Armstrong, who has reaffirmed the oft-used mantra ahead of Saturday's game against his former club.

Armstrong said: “It’s still a transition season, we can’t get too excited because there’s been performances that bug me. Bradford at home, Telford the second half, Brackley away, Leamington away…

“But we’re a lot stronger than we were in them games. Everyone can see why I wanted to bring Sean Reid into the club.

“He can win headers in both boxes, he wins the ball in midfield and he complements what we’ve got.”

Reid is one of seven former Spartan players in Quakers’ squad, another being Michael Liddle, and Armstrong added: “He was outstanding again. Not many people get past Lidds, and when he’s on top of his game I think he’s the best left-back in the league.

“There’s seven of them here and obviously Saturday stands out because of what we did up at Blyth.”

Armstrong enjoyed three excellent seasons at Croft Park, and revealed he could still have been with Blyth had different decision been made by the Spartans hierarchy.

He led them to promotion from the Northern Premier League in 2016-17, tenth position in the 2017-18 National League North and then sixth and involvement in the play-offs in 2018-19.

They lost on penalties to Altrincham, after which there was an exodus from Blyth with most of the players leaving while Armstrong became Darlington boss in May has been replaced as Spartans manager by Lee Clark.

Armstrong said: “I might still have been there if they hadn’t changed the budget, if they didn’t cut things and I could no longer afford to keep the players and start again with Northern League players. If that hadn’t happened I might be at Darlington. I felt as though I was getting set up to fail.”

He added: “We broke records with these players, and I am really proud of what I achieved up there. It’s just a shame the way it ended because the fans had been a different class with me. They’ll probably give me some stick on Saturday, but I had a good relationship with them and I think I’m starting a good one down here with the Darlington fans.

“It’ll be a bit emotional. Three years I was there and had nothing but success. We finished in the club’s highest ever position and we had a Trophy run, so I thank Blyth for giving me that opportunity, but things change in football.”

Among those who remain at Croft Park is Robbie Dale, a Blyth hero and scorer of their winning goal on Boxing Day against Gateshead.

He could have played professionally, says Armstrong, as could Stephen Thompson, who netted his 100th Darlington goal against Spennymoor Town.

Armstrong said: “Thommo should’ve been playing professionally, same as Robbie Dale at Blyth and Glen Taylor at Spennymoor. They haven’t because of circumstances.

“Darlington have done well to keep hold of Thommo. He’s probably had offers, substantial offers, but he’s stayed with Darlo through thick and thin.

“At the end of last season he thought there were only two or three players left, he didn’t know what was happening, so for someone to stay with the club for so long when he could easily have jumped ship is full credit to him.”

Thompson received a standing ovation when substituted late on and prolonged applause at full-time as supporters, team-mates and club officials congratulated Quakers' hero on his achievement.

“We’re all chuffed to bit for him,” added Armstrong. “It had been getting to him, I think, every game he lined up for a shot he was waiting and waiting – there was a moment against Spennymoor when he ran across the whole of the box and passed it, but Thommo without that pressure would’ve taken a touch and smashed it.

“He works so hard for the team and he needed to get that monkey off his back and now he can look forward to the next game.”

Having played two days ago, Darlington are likely to make changes. Jack Lambert, Justin Donawa and Omar Holness could start, while Adam Campbell, the only Quakers player to start all 28 games, Jarrett Rivers and Thompson may be rested.