Darlington's season was stalling and in danger of seizing up, but the AA cranked into gear and came to Quakers' rescue.

In a stunning team performance, the sort not seen for five seasons, Alun Armstrong stole the show with a hat-trick that earned a standing ovation, while debutant Clyde Wijnhard also marked his first game with a goal and an impressive display.

A fortnight ago boss David Hodgson blasted his team following a drab draw with Northampton, but Saturday's showing couldn't have been more different.

It was truly entertaining stuff as Quakers' scoring problems were forgotten - just three goals in the previous six league and cup games - and it could easily have been a larger victory.

Southend United had won four of their previous five league games but they couldn't cope against a side who looked capable of scoring every time they ventured forward.

The three-pronged strikeforce, on Saturday's showing at least, has the potential to fire Quakers into play-off contention.

Making up the third leg of an impressive attack, Craig Hignett was positioned behind the front two and was a class above anything the Shrimpers could offer.

Although Hodgson stressed that it was a team effort, Hignett, Armstrong and Wijnhard shone brighter than anyone which caused something of a paradox for Quakers.

Although Hignett has signed until the end of the season and is keen to stay, Armstrong has already said he'd like to get back into The Championship and is only under contract until Christmas while Wijnhard is on a match-to-match deal.

Unusually Hodgson spent the majority of the game watching from the back of the South Stand, and although he knows his new strikers could become hot property, he has faith in the club's set-up off the pitch which he says could help persuade them to stay.

He said: "The situation with Alun and Clyde is no different to how it was with the likes of Marco Gabbiadini and Neal Heaney a few years ago because there was always the possibility they could get picked up.

"But what we have got in our favour is a very professional way of doing things that the likes of Alun and Clyde, who have played at the top level, expect.

"Although we haven't got the facilities of the top clubs, the way we train and prepare is as good as anywhere in the Football League.''

Quakers signalled their intent as early as the second minute when Hignett produced a stunningly accurate 40-yard diagonal ball from the right to left on to the head of Wjinhard, who nodded to Stephen Thomas and his volley was tipped round by keeper Darryl Flahavan.

Hignett provided more entertainment soon after, making Wayne Gray look foolish as he went in two-footed on the former Boro man. Hignett's quick footwork manoeuvred him away, leaving Gray on his backside with howls of laughter ringing in his ears.

The first goal came when Armstrong's shot from the edge of the box was deflected out to the right where Adolofo Gregorio crossed to the striker on the penalty spot from where he found the back of the net with a diving header.

Armstrong had a strike ruled out for offside by the time Wijnhard recorded his first goal in England since April 2003.

Thomas is improving with every game and his first assist of the day came when he passed from the byline to the Dutchman who tapped past the keeper.

The third goal came five minutes before the break as Quakers put ten passes together before Hignett found space on the left from where he crossed to Thomas whose saved shot rebounded to Armstrong.

Eight yards out, he showed composure by waiting for Flahavan to commit himself before calmly placing the ball home.

Heads were shaking in disbelief as Quakers went in at half time three up and well worth the advantage. They hadn't played like this since the play-off season of 1999-00.

Quakers started the season with Craig Russell and central defender Matt Clarke as strikers but Armstrong and Wijnhard are in a different class and Hodgson said: "It just goes to show that when you've got proper players in their proper positions, that is to say natural scorers who can create and score chances, you score goals.

"Any club with those types of player would have a chance.

"The goals were class. The passing, movement and finishing were brilliant.

"That's what you get from a player as good as Alun, it shouldn't come as a surprise. I think there's still loads more to come from him.

"Hignett was the first part of the jigsaw. I tried to get Alun two months ago, that didn't come off but we've finally got him."

The second half wasn't played at quite the same tempo, especially after Armstrong left the fray to a standing ovation but he certainly earned the applause.

Armstrong is a fitter player since making his debut a fortnight ago and that was evident when he chased keeper Sam Russell's long kick which was headed weakly by Che Wilson towards his own keeper, inviting Armstrong to nip in and loft over Flahavan.

At 4-0 it was game over, and Southend still hadn't forced a real opening. It eventually came in the 59th minute but Russell was quick to react and made a block low to his right, ensuring a fifth clean sheet of the season.

In recording Darlington's best result yet at the Williamson Motors Stadium, supporters were left both delighted and stunned.

None of the previous ten league matches this season had hinted at what was to come; it was a throwback to Hodgson teams of old.

Seemingly everything went Darlington's way - even the youth team beat Hartlepool United 3-2 in the morning with two injury-time goals - but despite all the good football still there was no goal for Craig Russell (19 shots this season, no goals).

Winjhard weighted a through-ball to perfection but the substitute went wide and left himself an angle from which he could only fire at the keeper.

A first Russell goal of the season would really have topped the day off on what was a day of firsts - first hat-trick at the WMS, Armstrong's first career hat-trick, first time Quakers had scored three in the opening 45 minutes since April 2003 (a 5-1 home win over Shewsbury) and the first league hat-trick by a Darlington player since Gabbiadini against Exeter in 1999.

Gabbiadini arrived at Darlington as a 30-year-old in 1998 and went on to score 53 goals in two seasons, but, in hindsight, was deserving of football at a higher level and, just like he was, Armstrong, 29, and Wijnhard, 30, are wasted in the bottom division.

Their first touch, strength, ability to find space and their finishing were a joy and if they continue their good form then it could only be a matter of time before bigger clubs take notice.

Not being able to compete financially, Darlington can only hope the season turns into a play-off push and the pair will want to stick around for the ride.

Read more about the Quakers here.