Darlington'S League Two promotion hopes were given a double boost this week when striker Alun Armstrong sealed a 3-0 win over Leyton Orient and then signed on until the end of the season.

The former Middlesbrough player's decision to extend his stay at the Williamson Motors Stadium was a great coup for manager David Hodgson, who said: "It says a lot about our football club that Alun, who has four children, would rather play for us than for a club ten minutes up the road and in a higher division."

League One side Colchester United were one of several clubs known to be interested in signing Armstrong, who is based in Ipswich.

Championship club Preston North End were also linked with the 29-year-old, who has signed his new deal on the same financial terms as when he first joined Darlington in September.

Quakers were not at their best last Saturday, but still managed to see off their fellow promotion contenders with something to spare.

They went ahead after just five minutes when Orient defender Alan White put through his own net, although Clyde Wijnhard claimed he got the final touch and he could yet be credited with the goal as Darlington have submitted an appeal to the Football League.

But there was no argument about Quakers' second goal, which arrived after 59 minutes when Wijnhard looped in a header from Neil Wainwright's cross.

Armstrong made sure there was no way back for the visitors when he got in front of a defender before lobbing the keeper for his eighth goal in 14 appearances.

The victory pushed Darlington up to fifth in the table and they will hope to consolidate their position among the leading pack when they visit Boston United tomorrow.

Quakers will be looking for their fourth win on the trot, but the home side are defending the only unbeaten home record in the division and are sure to be a tough nut to crack. The Pilgrims are currently 13th in the table, four points behind Darlington.