Darlington manager Dave Penney has explained his reasoning for staging a mock penalty shoot-out after last Saturday's game with Dagenham & Redbridge.

Quakers' last home match of the regular season was followed by ten of his squad each taking a penalty against goalkeepers David Stockdale and Przemyslaw Kazimierczak.

With a penalty shoot-out in the play-offs a possibility, Penney was hoping to replicate as near to authentic match conditions as possible. He intended to perform the exercise in front of a large contingent of Darlington fans who had been highly vocal in their support when Quakers went 2-0 up. But throwing away the lead and suffering a third consecutive Arena defeat meant many of the home crowd left before the practice penalties.

After a home win two years ago, Watford did the same thing, and Penney explained: "I thought it was a good idea because some players aren't used to taking penalties in front of a crowd.

"It's quite easy to take penalties on a training pitch but there aren't any people there to replicate the atmosphere. You don't have people behind the goal trying to put you off. Hopefully it will stand us in good stead if we get to that stage in the play-offs."

Penney last week called on the fans to show their backing for the team, and he added: "The supporters getting behind us was excellent. I'd called for it in the Press and they certainly responded. The supporters were fantastic and I just wish we could have got a result for them."

Darlington's play-off semi final will be against either Rochdale or Stockport.

Saturday's visit to already-promoted Peterborough will determine whether Darlington finish the season sixth or seventh and face Dale or the Hatters. Already certain is that Quakers will be at home in the first leg on May 10 or 11 and away in the second leg on Saturday, May 17.