DESPITE a record of just one defeat in their last eight games, David Hodgson is still not quite ready to declare that Third Division football will be played at the Reynolds Arena next season.

And quite rightly so. The Darlington boss remains pragmatic with 11 games and 33 points still to play for.

In November, Hodgson arrived with one objective - avoiding relegation.

A tall order back then, with Quakers languishing in the relegation zone, four points adrift of safety and going nowhere fast.

But since the dark old days of the FA Cup humbling at non-league minnows, Hornchurch - Hodgson's first game in charge - the Quakers boss has slowly but surely restored confidence on and off the pitch.

On Saturday the Quakers new-found resilience and will to win ensured victory in their do-or-die clash at Macclesfield.

As far as crucial six-pointers go, the trip to Cheshire was all that and more.

Even after watching his side open up a six-point gap above the second-bottom Silkmen, Hodgson is refusing to dismiss the threat of relegation, ahead of tomorrow night's visit of Cheltenham.

"We're not safe yet and I think we need four more wins to make sure," said Hodgson.

"This is a massive week for the club and if we can come away with a couple of wins we're almost there.

"I know we're capable of doing it and hopefully we can."

An intriguing battle at the bottom maybe, but Saturday's relegation scrap at Moss Rose was never going to be one for the purist.

From a Darlington perspective, for the hundreds of fans who made the trip from the North-East, there were far more pressing issues on the agenda than discussing the finer points of the beautiful game.

There was nothing pretty about this encounter which, for all its significance, failed to produce a single booking.

Hodgson's men always looked in control but it wasn't until the 53rd minute that Craig Russell claimed the crucial winner on his first start since coming back to the club.

"It wasn't the greatest of games but that doesn't matter to us," said Hodgson.

"The most important thing is owe got three points, others didn't and we did it against a side who needed the points just as much as we did."

And come full-time and chants of "the Darlo's staying up" ringing in his ears, Hodgson must have felt like joining in. A clenched fist towards the away enclosure was his way of saying 'I know!'.

But until his side are mathematically safe, the Quakers boss will remain silent. Whether Hodgson will be able to contain himself if his side win tomorrow night remains to be seen.

Former Sunderland striker Russell may face a fight to hang on to his place despite his scoring exploits at the weekend.

With on-loan Black Cats striker Neil Teggart back from suspension, Hodgson has plenty to think about. But if the boss is true to his word then Teggart, Ian Clark and Joey Hutchinson may have to settle for bench duty.

"We had to make three changes today but I thought all the lads settled in well," said Hodgson.

"I've always believed in keeping the same team if it's winning so I have a lot to think about over the next couple of days."

Clark served a one-match ban on Saturday, while Hutchinson was with his fiance, who was due to give birth.

Russell, Ryan Valentine and David McGurk all deputised admirably and Hodgson will be hard-pushed to leave all three out against the Robins.

Making his first start since mid-January, Valentine almost made an instant impression when he drove an effort wide after just four minutes.

It wasn't until the 18th minute that the home side were able to cause any alarm in the Quakers defence. Paul Harsley found space on the edge of the area before curling wide of the goal.

But it was Quakers, and in particular, Barry Conlon who continued to cause problems. Macclesfield goalkeeper Steve Wilson was equal to Conlon's long-range effort after 23 minutes. But Wilson was left stranded moments later when Conlon headed Valentine's cross wide.

Defender Matt Clarke should have done better when he headed tamely at Wilson on the half-hour and the Silkmen keeper got down smartly to grab Neil Wainwright's low effort soon after.

Wilson then did well to re-adjust after Craig Liddle's 25-yard volley took a deflection.

It was the home side who came closest to taking the lead with half-time approaching. Former York City striker Jon Parkin had Michael Price beaten only for the post to come to the rescue.

Referee George Cain incensed the Quakers bench early in the second half when he ignored Valentine's head injury, allowing Dan Whitaker to fire over the bar.

But moments later all was forgotten as Quakers took a deserved lead through Russell.

Clarke's shot was deflected and the ball fell to Russell in the box, who had enough space and time to pick his spot, before volleying past Wilson into the top corner of the net.

The 30-year-old, released by Carlisle in December, almost doubled his tally minutes after the restart, but drove straight at Wilson after good work by Valentine and Mark Convery.

The home side never looked like threatening Quakers' lead although Matthew Tipton should have made more of a header he sent into the arms of Price.

And it was Tipton who looked odds on to score in the 74th minute only to be denied by a last-gasp challenge from McGurk.

Macclesfield searched late on for an equaliser but without any real cutting edge, they never looked like finding a way through a resolute Quakers defence.

Result: Macclesfield Town 0 Darlington 1.

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