RICHIE Foran is enjoying his football more than ever and reckons Darlington's team spirit is contributing towards their promotion charge.

The experienced Irishman, Darlington's match-winner at Mansfield Town last Saturday, joined in November from Southend United in a loan move that has been extended until the end of the season.

Darlington were not at their best at the weekend, but Foran believes the togetherness fostered by manager Dave Penney has been crucial in taking Quakers to third in League Two.

"I've signed until the end of the season and I'm the happiest I've been in a long time," said the former Carlisle and Motherwell forward.

"I've been at three or four clubs now but this is the best dressing room I've ever been in for atmosphere, team spirit and togetherness.

"It's down to the gaffer because he has brought in the right players and it's that togetherness that helps grind out results like Saturday's.

"It was probably our worst performance in the time I've been here but we ground out a result because of our spirit.

"We did not have a game on Tuesday and it is probably a blessing because I think we were jaded at Mansfield. The pitch at Morecambe last week was terrible, it took a lot out of us and that showed in the last ten or 15 minutes on Saturday.

"Now we get a bit of a rest and then we start to look forward to two home games and hopefully we'll pick up some more points."

His 30th-minute penalty was enough to give Quakers three points from a match in which the 27-year-old started in left midfield, which is where he has been playing for Darlington, but ended up as a striker.

When out-of-sorts Tommy Wright was replaced, Penney's reshuffle saw Foran pushed up alongside Gregg Blundell, which is where Foran prefers to be, though he is not complaining.

It was as a striker he established himself with Carlisle after moving from the League of Ireland seven years ago, and at Motherwell he played on the left of a three-pronged attack.

"I prefer to be up front but I don't go banging on the manager's door because I'm just happy to be out there playing," said Foran. "If I had the choice I'd be up front, but it's up the gaffer.

It's not about where Richie Foran plays, it's about getting three points every week."

Fourteen of his 35 goals for Motherwell came from the spot so, understandably, he backed himself to score.

He said: "There were a few words said between me and Tommy.

"If Tommy had got to the ball first I probably would have let him have it, but I was confident and I slotted it away."