THE 801 Darlington fans who travelled down to Scunthorpe had every reason to celebrate on Saturday.

David Hodgson's men could have been battered 7-1 at Glanford Park and still been able to hold their heads up high.

Pressure-free Saturdays have been somewhat of a rarity for Darlington this season.

But with safety assured a fortnight earlier at Lincoln, Saturday was a chance for fans to show their appreciation of the miraculous efforts both Hodgson and assistant manager Martin Gray have achieved this season.

For a club which has stared extinction in the face for the best part of six months, surviving the season has been an achievement in itself.

And with Hodgson's insistence that the 121-year-old club will exist next season, for the first time in five years it seems Quakers fans have plenty to look forward to.

The club has already made moves to bring promising Middlesbrough striker Danny Graham back to the club, as Hodgson plots his next step in regenerating and reinvigorating a club which has had its name dragged through the mud in recent years.

"This club has had to put up with a lot of disappointment and it's not fair," said Hodgson.

"It's not fair on the fans and it is not fair for everybody who works at the club.

"Our next aim should be to put in place an infrastructure which enables the club to be run professionally.

"We've had plenty of owners here but none of them have been able to get it right.

"I might be setting my standards too high when I say we should be matching the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal but standards cost nothing.

"What I must do is thank everybody who has supported this football club in a very difficult season."

Hodgson's immediate concern will be to resolve the future of striker Barry Conlon who may have played his last game for the club.

The 25-year-old is out of contract this summer with a host of clubs queuing for his signature.

Conlon claimed the only goal of the game in Saturday's 1-0 win to take his tally to 14 for the season.

Hodgson said: "I had a word with Baz when he was coming off and who knows what might happen?

"Big Baz does not want to leave. What will take him away is the financial side.

"If another club comes in and offers him more than we can then he's going to go.

"Baz will do what's right for him and what's right for his family."

The game was only five minutes old when Conlon rose highest to plant his header past Iron keeper Tom Evans, from Ian Clark's pinpoint cross.

On-loan striker Graham, playing his final game before returning to the Riverside Stadium, was unlucky not to double Quakers' advantage after 18 minutes.

Only the quick reflexes of Evans denied the 18-year-old his third goal for the club when he tipped his low effort over after latching on to Mark Convery's through ball.

At the other end Quakers survived a major scare when, after a scramble in the box, defender Joey Hutchinson hacked Steve MacLean's goal-bound back-heel off the line.

Clark provided further proof of Quakers' determination not to let the season end with a whimper when he sent Cleveland Taylor crashing towards the advertisement hoardings after challenging for the ball.

On the stroke of half-time Taylor stung Price's gloves with a rasping effort, which the Quakers keeper could only parry away.

And it was on-loan Bolton winger Taylor who caused Quakers more problems early in the second half when he weaved his way past three players before dragging his shot well wide.

Taylor then found space down the right before crossing for MacLean, but the towering presence of Matt Clarke was enough to distract the on-loan Rangers striker, whose header bobbled tamely wide.

The woodwork came to Quakers' rescue on 55 minutes. Again Taylor was instrumental, crossing low from the right byline for MacLean, who smashed his effort off the underside of the crossbar from six yards out.

Only the intervention of Iron defender Cliff Byrne denied Conlon his second goal of the afternoon when he cut out Graham's dangerous low cross from the right.

With his exit imminent, Quakers' fans showed their appreciation of Conlon when he was substituted with less than 20 minutes remaining.

And it was his replacement Neil Teggart - making his final appearance before returning to Sunderland - who rattled the crossbar just moments after his introduction.

Despite their slender lead, Quakers remained in control and after good work down the right, Brian Close crossed low for the luckless Teggart, who fired straight into the arms of Evans.

Scunthorpe almost snatched an equaliser late on when Richard Kell struck the post.

Result: Scunthorpe 0 Darlington 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.