THE Quakers faithful will certainly not be getting carried away, but at least they had something to cheer at the Reynolds Arena last Saturday.

Two early goals from Barry Conlon against rock bottom Carlisle United were enough to give Mick Tait's side their second win of the season and three welcome points.

The visitors had managed only one point and one goal from their first five games and it was easy to see why.

They were unable to prevent Conlon heading in the opener from a long throw into the box by Chris Hughes and the big Irishman was again left unattended when he headed home his second seven minutes later.

Darlington could have scored more goals as the Cumbrians rarely threatened, ex-Quaker Adam Rundle having their first shot on goal midway through the second half.

Ashley Nicholls returned in midfield for Quakers, while Matt Clarke again impressed as Conlon's strike partner, but the dismissal of Gary Pearson for a second bookable offence just before the end took some of the gloss off the victory.

Tait was pleased with his side's performance, but knows they are likely to face a sterner test of their ability to climb the table when Doncaster Rovers visit the Reynolds Arena tomorrow.

The South Yorkshire side, who returned to the Football League after a five-year absence when winning promotion from the Nationwide Conference last season, have made a reasonable start to the campaign.

They have lost just once so far and held Hull City to a 0-0 draw at home on Monday night.

Darlington were hoping that their squad could be further strengthened by the return of Neil Wainwright and Danny Mellanby after injury.

Wainwright has the best chance of being involved after playing 70 minutes of the reserves' 1-0 win at Notts County on Wednesday.

Striker Glen Robson also staked a claim for a first team spot by scoring the only goal of the game, while Australian Russell Waller came on for the last 20 minutes in his latest bid to come back from a career-threatening knee ligament injury.