DARLINGTON manager Alun Armstrong said that his new strikeforce made a huge difference in the 3-1 opening day win over Gloucester.

Three new signings scored well-taken goal for Quakers - Jacob Hazel, Mark Beck and Kaine Felix, who came on Friday night’s deadline - as Darlington won a league game on the opening day for the first time in five years.

Gloucester will be furious with their defender, Tommy O’Sullivan, who crazily got himself sent off after they had just got back into the game. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he was made to walk home afterwards.

“We’ve got goalscorers on the pitch now, half chances become good chances now for them, “said Armstrong. “Jacob took his goal well, and Kaine came on the field and showed exactly why I want him in the squad. He’s got pace to burn and what a goal he scored. It didn’t take long to get the deal done once I got permission to speak to him on Friday, he was desperate to come.

“I told Ben Hedley to put the ball into the box in certain situations, because the two strikers will make runs. As soon as Ben put the ball in, Becky’s eyes lit up! I was delighted for him to get a goal because he hadn’t scored in pre-season.

“How many times did we not take our chances last season? On Saturday we had three lads who score goals for fun. It was perfect for us to get a win on the board. Gloucester were a decent side, but we played good football. We’ve still got little things to fix, and loads to work on, but there are loads of positives for this Saturday at Chorley.”

Gloucester had the better chances early in the game. Jake James tried to catch Darlington keeper Tommy Taylor out with a 30-yard shot that bounced off the keeper, then Matt McClure headed a good chance from a right-wing cross over the top.

Quakers slowly got into a game that was punctuated by seven bookings and nearly took the lead on 25 minutes when Jack Lambert swung a free-kick over from the left for Beck to head wide. Hazel then curled a left-foot shot from 25 yards over the top.

Junior Mondal had the best chance yet when Adriano Moke sent him through, but after he rounded the keeper, he side-footed into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Quakers took the lead on 43 minutes. A loose clearance by Hall was picked up by Beck, who played the ball forward for Mondal to square to the left for Hazel, who lifted the ball over everybody from way out into the net.

Beck, whose height caused problems all afternoon for Gloucester, almost made it 2-0 with a low left-foot shot that Hall saved at full stretch down to his right.

Quakers were stunned on the hour when Gloucester equalised. One of their new signings, Owen Evans, thundered a shot against the bar, and Daniel Leadbitter quickly controlled the ball and knocked it in.

But then the visitors had defender O’Sullivan dismissed for his second booking in just a few minutes. His first was a foul, and his second was a ridiculous handball with a defensive basketball style, in trying to stop a quick Kallum Griffiths throw.

After the impressive Moke had forced a good save out of Hall after he broke into the box, Quakers went back into the lead. Left-back Ben Hedley floated a delightful ball over from the left for Beck to score with a downward header at the far post.

Sub Felix, signed from Peterborough Sports late on Friday evening, came on and nearly scored, with a near-post effort from a Moke cross, and he grabbed the third with an electrifying run from a precise Alex Purver pass, smashing the ball past Hall.