NEW Darlington manager David Hodgson has read the small print and knows exactly what he's walking into.

Nobody would envy the task ahead as Hodgson prepares for his third managerial stint with the club - predecessor Mick Tait can vouch for that.

But if anybody's up for the challenge, it's Gateshead-born Hodgson, who has already addressed his first objective and that is to preserve Quakers' League status.

The returning hero was not at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday to see his side slump to their six straight League defeat and fall into the bottom two.

Instead, newly-installed assistant manager Martin Gray assumed temporary touchline duties at his former club.

It didn't start badly for a Quakers side which at first appeared to have shaken off the shackles of their five previous defeats with some free-flowing moves.

And they were rewarded with a deserved 23rd-minute opener from defender David McGurk.

But three second-half goals from the home side and the dismissals of McGurk and Danny Mellanby soon put paid to any Quakers hopes of a revival .

"I had a word with Hodgy on the way down and he told me what he wanted from the players and I don't think the lads could have done anymore throughout the 90 minutes," said Gray.

"We've worked very hard in training and things seemed to be working well. Up until the sendings off I thought we could get something out of the game."

U's striker Steve Basham should have given his side an early lead when, with just a minute played, he headed over from close range.

At the other end Gary Pearson teed himself up for a shot on the edge of the area but his audacious attempt blazed high and wide of Andy Woodman's goal.

And Matt Clarke almost caught Woodman off guard when he rose above Jon Ashton at the back post but his header was directed inches past the upright.

But moments later Quakers did manage to find the net.

After a brief melee in the box, the ball eventually fell out to Chris Hughes on the edge of the area, who picked out McGurk in the centre for the defender to nip in ahead of his marker and glance his header past Woodman.

The home side looked for a quick reply and they almost got it through full-back Matt Robinson, who skipped in and out of several challenges but his effort failed to match the superb run as he sliced over the bar.

Robinson was again involved in Oxford's next attack, as the U's mounted their own spell of pressure, when his cross was spilled by Quakers' keeper Michael Price.

However, Price's blushes were spared as midfielder Dean Whitehead drove the loose ball over from 12 yards out.

Anything Price could do, Woodman could do better as the U's keeper got in a horrible tangle with his own teammate early in the second half as the ball bounced out for Clarke, but the former Halifax man's snap-shot flashed over.

U's boss Ian Atkins introduced Mark Rawle for the second half, replacing Mike Basham.

And the forced substitution proved a fortunate one, when, with just seven minutes of the second half played, Rawle drew his side level. As the Quakers defence appealed for offside Rawle pounced on Whitehead's scuffed shot to tap home.

Any hopes the visitors had of regaining their advantage suffered a major setback when they were reduced to ten-men close to the hour mark.

After giving chase to a lost ball which was always going to be Woodman's, Mellanby brushed past the U's keeper with the faintest of contact, only for Woodman to go down in a heap - and referee Andre Marriner bring out his red card.

Matt Bound netted after 74 minutes and after Quakers were reduced to nine following McGurk's sending off for a foul on Hackett, Paul Wanless powered home a header