David Hodgson has long been acknowledged to be a good motivator of his players but for Saturday's must-win game, when a passion-filled team-talk to spark his players into action was needed, he allowed someone else to take centre stage . . . Al Pacino.

The actor didn't actually fly in from Hollywood to deliver the speech, instead Hodgson made a trip to Blockbuster Video and hired a copy of the American football film, Any Given Sunday, in which Pacino plays an under-pressure coach.

When the Oliver Stone-directed film reaches its climax, Pacino delivers a typically high-energy and memorable speech, designed to inspire his players to go the "extra inch".

And it certainly had the desired effect as, against Cheltenham, Darlington were out of the blocks with an urgency that has been lacking all too often this season.

Inside the first four minutes a rejuvenated Neil Wainwright fired in three crosses, the third of which Clyde Wijnhard headed against the underside of the bar, as Quakers aimed to go goal crazy.

Wainwright headed Darlington's second goal just before full-time and he said: "We went at them from the first whistle and even when they went in front we were on top. We kept creating chances and the tempo was high.

"The gaffer played us a DVD made by Quaker TV, it was a collage of us scoring goals this season to music.

"At the beginning was Al Pacino doing a motivational speech in Any Given Sunday. But I can't remember what the music was, something cheesy probably!

"The gaffer asked for high tempo football from the start and I think we did that.

"We set out to do that and it worked. It's disappointing because we couldn't have done much more today, it's other games this season when we've dropped points that have cost us."

* Goalkeeper Sam Russell, Darlington's only ever-present this season, was presented with three Player of the Season accolades at the Supporters Club end of season awards on Saturday night, while Jason St Juste also picked up three trophies.

St Juste was voted Young Player of the Year while he was also honoured for his spectacular goals at Grimsby Town and Bristol Rovers.

For his work since becoming chairman, Stewart Davies was given an outstanding achievement award, as did Craig Liddle who received a standing ovation when presented with his trophy.

Player of the Year: Sam Russell

Young Player of the Year: Jason St Juste

Away Player of the Year: Sam Russell

Darlo Uncovered website Player of the Year: Sam Russell

Goal of the Season: Jason St Juste (Grimsby away)

Players' Goal of the Season: Jason St Juste (Bristol Rovers away)

Arran Travis Leading Scorer: Clyde Wijnhard

Youth Team Player of the Year: Chris Mason

Outstanding Achievement Awards: Stewart Davies, Craig Liddle, Martin Gray and Mick Tait.

Read more about the Quakers here.