DAVID HODGSON has warned his Darlington players that their recent upturn in fortunes will count for nothing if they fail to make home advantage count.

Quakers ended a run of four games without a win by beating Cheltenham 2-0 on Friday night to move up to seventh in the table - their highest position this season.

And after playing their fifth game in 13 days at Whaddon Road, Hodgson's men will take a well-earned break before returning to League Two action a week tomorrow against Mansfield Town.

Although Quakers slipped down two places to ninth after Saturday's results, they are only four points worse off than they were at the same stage of the 1999/00 play-off season and have back-to-back home games to look forward to.

Visiting the Williamson Motors Stadium after 16th placed-Mansfield are fourth-placed Leyton Orient a week on Saturday and Hodgson believes the matches will provide an opportunity to break back into the play-off pack.

He said: "We've got two home games coming up and it's important that we don't blow a good chance to strengthen our position in the top half of the table.

"You should always look to win your home games and if we do that against Mansfield and Orient we'll be nicely placed going into the Christmas period."

Quakers' impressive win at Cheltenham came less than a week after their worst performance of the season against Lincoln and their FA Cup exit at Yeovil. Hodgson said: "I'd like to think these last few games have taught the players something.

"When they step up a gear and put the work rate in, the technical side always falls into place and they come away winning games."

And having covered over 1,700 miles in nine days - at Swansea, Yeovil and Cheltenham - Hodgson is full of praise for his travel-weary squad.

"When you take all the travelling we have done into consideration the lads have been tremendous."

Having watched his side surrender leads at Swansea and Yeovil recently, Hodgson added: "We showed a lot of character at Cheltenham who we knew were a well-organised team.

"To break them down, get two goals and hold on to it until the end shows that there are good players at this club."

Hodgson will have an almost full squad to choose from next Tuesday although Brian Close is facing a one match ban after collecting his fifth booking of the season at Cheltenham.

Craig Hignett was on the bench at Whaddon Road and will train this week following a hamstring injury, likewise American midfielder Adolfo Gregorio who is in line to return after shin splints.

Defender Matt Clarke is available after serving a one-match ban on Friday.

* Darlington's youth team made it through to the third round of the FA Youth Cup last week but they have not been able to match that success in the League Cup after crashing out at the weekend.

Martin Gray's side lost 3-0 at Burnley in round two of The Football League Youth Alliance Cup.

* Scunthorpe extended their lead at the top of Coca-Cola League Two after a 3-1 win against Shrewsbury.

The leaders had taken the lead through Peter Beagrie's penalty and the visitors had David Walton sent off for violent conduct after 30 minutes.

Jamie Tolley gave the home side a scare when he levelled in the 70th minute but the Iron hit back a minute later through Paul Hayes and Cleveland Taylor added a third 14 minutes from full-time.

The lead at the top is now five points after Swansea slipped up against Bury at the Vetch Field.

Kevin Nugent gave the home side the lead after two minutes but the Shakers hit back swiftly through David Nugent and Dwayne Mattis.

Brian Barry-Murphy added a third after 83 minutes to wrap up the points.

Yeovil could not take advantage the Swans' slip and lost 3-1 to Lincoln at Sincil Bank.

Read more about the Quakers here.