REMEMBER me? That was Ian Clark's message to Darlington manager David Hodgson after the substitute came off the bench to earn his side a much-deserved win at Oxford United yesterday.

Quakers may be turning many League Two heads with their recent spate of impressive signings, but it was Clark who made the most of his 20-minute cameo appearance, scoring 16 minutes from time to take Hodgson's men up to eighth in the table following their second away win of the season.

Clark had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes when he slid the ball past Chris Tardif to cap a fine comeback from Quakers, who are showing the kind of tenacity which will take them far this season.

Oxford will be the first to testify that big name arrivals don't necessarily guarantee success and Clark may share that view after stealing the show at the Kassam Stadium.

With former Premiership duo Lee Bradbury and Tommy Mooney in their ranks, the Us have so far failed to see the best of their summer captures.

In contrast, Quakers' freshly assembled strikeforce can do no wrong at the moment.

Between them Clyde Wijnhard and Alun Armstrong have already combined to score five goals between them in two games.

And with Craig Hignett - ruled out yesterday with a knee problem - providing the ammunition, the likes of Clark are no longer mainstays in the team.

Hodgson could even afford to rest skipper Craig Liddle for a second consecutive game.

"We've got bodies on the bench who were prominent in this team last year," said Hodgson.

"We are beginning to develop the kind of strength we never had before.

"When you look at the bench now you can turn to players who you know can change games.

"We got three good points in the end so I'm delighted."

In last season's corresponding fixture Martin Gray took charge of team affairs against his former club, with Hodgson's return imminent. Danny Mellanby and David McGurk were sent off in a 3-1 defeat.

Yesterday, Hodgson was forced to make one change from the side which ran riot against Southend United eight days earlier, with Chris Hughes returning to the side in place of Hignett.

Despite last week's 2-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers, Oxford remained unchanged with Billingham-born striker Mooney partnering Bradbury in attack.

There was less than a minute on the clock when Mooney showed quick feet to advance past two defenders before Brian Close intervened with an untidy challenge on the edge of the area.

Mooney - who scored 20 goals for Swindon in the old Second Division last season - was again involved when he twisted and turned in the Quakers box, before crossing for Steve Basham, but the defence held firm.

Quakers' first attacking contribution came on seven minutes. Former Huddersfield team-mates Wijnhard and Armstrong linked up well, before the latter scuffed wide from the edge of the area under pressure from Us defender Leo Roget.

Wijnhard then flicked on for last week's hat-trick hero Armstrong, but the 29-year-old could only direct his header straight at keeper Tardif.

With 14 minutes played Chris Hackett broke clear of the Quakers defence before firing into the arms of Sam Russell.

With American Adolfo Gregorio providing all the running in midfield, Quakers continued to look dangerous on the break.

However, only the timely intervention of Brian Close prevented Graham Rix's side from breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute. Dave Mackay crossed deep from the right and with Mooney lurking at the back post Close headed away.

Mooney thought he had earned his side a penalty on 36 minutes when he was brought down in the box by Russell.

However, the assistant referee's flag came to Quakers' aid as Mooney was ruled offside.

Former Middlesbrough stopper Russell then produced a superb point-blank save to deny Mooney.

However, there was little Russell could do on the stroke of half-time when the Us took the lead through David Woozley. The defender rose highest at the back post, heading home Chris Hackett's inswinging corner to claim his first goal for the club.

Hackett delivered another dangerous set-piece shortly after the restart, but Mooney's deft header was cleared off the line by Ryan Valentine.

But with 51 minutes played Wijnhard drew Quakers level with his second goal in as many games.

Finding space in the Us box the Dutchman delivered a ferocious drive Tardif stood absolutely no chance with.

Skipper Bradbury should have restored the lead almost immediately when, one-on-one with Russell, the former Portsmouth man fired straight at the Quakers keeper.

Mooney was then guilty of wasting a glorious opportunity to score when he headed Bradbury's flick-on over the bar from two yards out.

And the Teessider was made to pay for his glaring miss when substitute Clark pounced to put Quakers 2-1 up in the 74th minute.

The impressive Gregorio delivered a pin-point pass through to the former Hartlepool man, who kept his composure to place the ball past Tardif for his second goal of the season.

* Striker Gavin Parkin scored a hat-trick as Darlington's youth team beat Hartlepool at Victoria Park for the second weekend running on Saturday.

The game was played at a competitive pace but Martin Gray's side ended as 3-2 winners to complete a double after beating Pool in the league cup seven days previously.