Darlington manager David Hodgson last night congratulated striker Lee Matthews on proving his doubters wrong.

After a difficult start to his month-long loan move from Bristol City, Matthews finally opened his account for the club at the fourth attempt in the 1-1 draw at Carlisle.

The big Teessider has struggled to make an impact since joining the club at the start of December.

But after keeping his place in the side despite the return of Barry Conlon, and helping to earn Quakers a point in yesterday's relegation battle, Hodgson believes the 25-year-old is beginning to show what he is really capable of.

"I'm pleased for Lee because many people had expected me to leave him out," said Hodgson. "The boy has got a great goalscoring record and he's proved it today.

"Hopefully he can do it in the next three games he's got for us."

Quakers may well have come away with all three points had Matthews put away a glorious opportunity in the second half.

And Hodgson said: "I think we could have nicked it at the end with a couple of good chances.

"It is pleasing to see us continuing to create chances. We could easily have won our last two home games by two or three goals."

The Quakers boss was also pleased with the character his side showed, especially after falling behind to Brendan McGill's tenth-minute opener.

"We were happy with our performance because we were 1-0 down and we had to get back in to the game," said Hodgson.

"We did that and in the end we were the better team and we could easily have won it."

Yesterday's draw may have done little in pulling Quakers out of the relegation mire and they are now three points adrift of safety.

But Hodgson maintains that his side possess too much quality to go down.

Hodgson said: "These lads are too good to be where they are but we are down there for a reason.

"People said that Nottingham Forest were too good when they went down from the Premiership but I believe there's enough strength in that changing room to be able to go and put two or three wins together.

"I'm sure the fans will be disappointed we didn't come away with a win today.

"But the players got a good reception at the end which is always a good sign."

* Oxford claimed top spot in the Third Division as Doncaster suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Hull.

Doncaster were knocked off the top by a hat-trick from Hull's Jason Price, whose goals at the Kingston Communications Stadium lifted his side to third in the table.

Leo Fortune-West cancelled out Price's third-minute opener but two further goals from the Hull midfielder in the second half settled the match.

Oxford capitalised to open up a two-point gap at the top thanks to Mark Rawle's 68th-minute winner in a 1-0 triumph at Southend.

Mansfield lost ground as a late Macclesfield equaliser cost them two points at Moss Rose.

Iyseden Christie's 71st-minute effort had put the Stags on course for a 1-0 win but Matthew Tipton rescued the home side in the last minute.

Sixth-placed Swansea cut the gap on Yeovil above them to four points with a 3-2 win over the Glovers at the Vetch Field.

Kevin Gall looked to have saved a point for Yeovil with an 89th-minute equaliser but there was still time for Lee Trundle to win the game for the home side with his second goal of the thrilling encounter.

Trundle had opened the scoring with a 29th-minute penalty and Karl Connolly added a second but Yeovil refused to give in, drawing level through Gavin Williams and Gall.

Read more about the Quakers here.