Not so long ago a trip to Carlisle would have been treated with as much relish as the January sales.

But tomorrow's journey across the A66 is as welcome as a hand-knitted Christmas jumper.

Quakers' visit to Brunton Park could not have come at a worse time.

Little over a week ago, the rock-bottom Cumbrians looked resigned to losing their league status, having chalked up just one win all season.

But after back-to-back wins over Torquay and Bury, Paul Simpson's men have given their fans some hope of survival. And they will no doubt look at tomorrow's visit of fellow strugglers Darlington as an ideal opportunity to continue their revival.

The gap which was 15 points last week is now nine. It could be six tomorrow night.

And, with Southend winning at Cambridge yesterday, Quakers are four points adrift of safety.

Not even a bumper Boxing Day crowd of 6,205 failed to lift the spirits of Quakers, who completed a miserable week on and off the field.

Once again they failed to make their possession count and without the suspended Barry Conlon in attack, they were short of any invention in the final third.

They paid the price as Huddersfield returned to West Yorkshire with all three points thanks to Andy Booth's first-half strike.

"Today was a bad day at the office," admitted manager David Hodgson. "We had a big crowd and we've let ourselves down. We didn't play any kind of football. We started off brightly in the first ten minutes and from there only God knows what happened.

"There was no real fluency to our game or any pattern in our football. We had chances, but when you're at the wrong end of the table they don't go for you. It's as simple as that."

Traffic congestion on the A66 meant that the game was delayed 20 minutes, with Huddersfield bringing around 1,700 fans.

Youngster Chris Hughes was the first to put the Terriers' defence to the test when he hoisted two long throws into the box which were well dealt with.

And only a fine point-blank save from Terriers keeper Phil Senior kept out an Ashley Nicholls header from Craig James' cross after five minutes. From the resulting corner, Lee Matthews had a header cleared off the line by Nigerian defender Efe Sodje and as the ball returned to his feet, the Teessider dragged his effort wide of goal.

Quakers keeper Michael Price, again preferred to fit-again Andy Collett, then guided Lee Fowler's long-range effort wide of his goal after 11 minutes.

Ian Clark then headed over midway through the first half from a Hughes cross and after earning a corner, defender Craig Liddle put a firm header over the bar.

Quakers fell behind in the 29th minute to Booth's strike and the former Sheffield Wednesday forward will not score an easier goal this season.

Sunderland target Jon Stead's initial effort didn't appear to be causing Price any problems until the ball took a wicked bounce off the surface and off the shoulder of the Quakers keeper. Price lost track of the ball and Booth was the grateful recipient, tapping in from two yards out.

Bristol City striker Matthews, on loan for a month and making his third start in the absence of the suspended Barry Conlon, was unlucky not to open his account for the club when he fired wide just before half-time.

Quakers were quickly out of the blocks for the second period and only the reflexes of Senior denied the home side an equaliser from Nicholls' low effort.

Quakers continued to bombard the Terriers' area but, led by the impressive Sodje, the visiting defence were proving difficult to break down.

However, Quakers were offered some hope when they earned a free-kick on the edge of the visitors' box with 66 minutes played.

But after beating the wall and the keeper, Craig James' curling effort struck the top of the cross-bar.

The Sunderland full-back was allowed another crack with ten minutes remaining but his shot sailed harmlessly over.

Sub Mark Convery had a late drive blocked leaving Huddersfield to celebrate on the final whistle as Quakers trudged off.

* Gregg Blundell's 67th-minute goal was all that was needed for Third Division leaders Doncaster to overcome rivals Scunthorpe.

It was a crucial strike as second-placed Oxford snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win against ten-man Leyton Orient. Gary Alexander had given the visitors an early lead but Andy Crosby (33) equalised from the penalty spot before Tom Newey was dismissed. Julian Alsop lobbed the winner in the 87th minute.

Result: Darlington 0 Huddersfield 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.