GIVEN their erratic form this season, Clyde Wijnhard and Darlington may have more in common than most would imagine.

Much like his employers, Wijnhard's performances have had fans purring one week and seething the next.

From his memorable goal at Oxford in October, to his hauling off at Leyton Orient after just 31 minutes back in February, Wijnhard's contribution has been as diverse as a Quakers teamsheet this season.

On Saturday, the Surinam-born striker was as cool as the chilling wind which cut through the Williamson Motors Stadium to keep Quakers' play-off hopes on track.

There was little to suggest Quakers' notoriously poor form against struggling sides was going to let up against third-bottom Rushden, after a far from inspiring opening half.

But after Wijnhard despatched his first penalty with devastating precision in the 49th minute, Quakers gained the psychological upper-hand to take control of a much-improved second-half display.

And just for safe measure the former Leeds marksman added his second - and 15th of the season - from the spot five minutes later.

In Wijnhard taking his recent tally to six goals in five games, his most purple patch at the club could not come at a better time as Quakers aim to secure a top seven finish.

That could be assured this weekend if David Hodgson's men win at Lincoln and Northampton fail to beat Chester.

Wycombe (ninth) and Rochdale (10th) are almost certainly out of contention after both sides drew at the weekend, while Northampton kept the pressure on Quakers with a 1-0 win over Lincoln.

Realistically, the final two play-off places up for grabs are between Lincoln, Quakers and Northampton, the teams in sixth, seventh and eighth.

Assistant manager Mark Proctor believes Quakers' fate may not be decided until the final day of the season when they entertain Cheltenham on May 7.

"We always thought that it would go to the wire and it's looking that way even after Saturday's results," said Proctor.

"We have another difficult game at Lincoln, but we will go into it full of confidence. We know it's another game we can get something from.

"As long as we're professional we're not looking at anyone else to do us any favours. We're in pole position and hopefully that will continue."

As disconcerting as the manner in which Quakers eventually secured only their second win in six games was, Proctor insists the result was paramount over their performance.

"It would be nice to play pretty football and win but at this stage of the season it's not important," said Proctor. "It was crucially important that we picked up three points today, especially with Northampton winning."

Saturday's win also means Quakers have collected four points from the two games since reverting to a 4-4-2 system.

And, for all the hard work Quakers made of this win, there was an assured feeling about football's most simplistic formation.

Full-backs Ryan Valentine and Brian Close comfortably cut out any Rushden threat from the flanks, while Matthew Bates and Curtis Fleming formed a formidable partnership at the heart of defence.

And, with Matty Appleby bossing in central midfield, Adrian Webster - an early replacement for the injured Stephen Thomas - was given the licence to use his piercing runs to maximum effect.

"We're pleased with the way the formation has worked in the last couple of games," said Proctor. "We stuck at it and we've had four points out of six with a 4-4-2, so let's hope it continues."

Quakers may not have dictated the first-half to the standard at which they did in the 1-1 draw at Mansfield seven days earlier, but they rarely looked under threat from a Rushden side, which had not won away since October.

Neil Wainwright impressed at Field Mill and the winger appeared equally keen to do well on home soil when he fired over early on from Wijnhard's driven corner.

After passing a late fitness test Alun Armstrong was handed the captain's armband and the striker should have done better when he glanced his header wide from another Wijnhard set-piece in the 17th minute.

At the other end Quakers' keeper Sam Russell saved comfortably from David Bell on the edge of the box after a strong run from the Rushden midfielder.

The best chance of the first-half fell to the visitors and Bishop Auckland-born defender Phil Gulliver.

Unmarked in the Quakers' box, Gulliver directed his header wide of Russell's goal from a Rushden corner.

But with just two minutes of the second-half played, Quakers were awarded a penalty when Wainwright was bundled down in the box by Rushden keeper Scott Shearer.

Wijnhard made no mistake to send Shearer the wrong way, with Quakers' first shot on goal.

Five minutes later Wijnhard added his second of the game from the spot after Brian Close was hacked down by Rushden skipper Stuart Gray.

"There was a lot of pressure on Clyde but I thought he struck both penalties with a lot of confidence," said Proctor. "We looked anxious in the first-half but I thought those goals relaxed us."

Indeed, after Wijnhard's two-goal salvo eased nerves, Quakers' new-found confidence was epitomised by Close's audacious 30-yard volley in the 63rd minute, which Shearer held well.

Gulliver was unlucky not to reduce the deficit when his close-range effort was deflected over.

In the 67th minute, Gray sent a ferocious drive crashing off the Quakers bar from Bell's corner, before the visitors recorded their first effort on target when the Quakers' keeper held comfortably from Gray's tame effort.

And with the game in injury time Rushden were again denied when Webster cleared off the line from Peter Hawkins.

Result: Darlington 2 Rushden and Diamonds 0.

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