IT may be too soon to judge if he is the right man for the job, but the early impact made by Quakers' caretaker manager Mick Tait has certainly been encouraging.

The improvement in the team's performances was immediate as a 4-0 drubbing of struggling Exeter City last Saturday was followed by an entertaining 1-1 draw with in-form Scunthorpe United at Feethams on Tuesday night.

Tait made the brave decision to leave out experienced midfielders Neil Maddison and Mark Ford from the starting line-up at St James' Park, giving youngsters Paul Campbell, Clark Keltie, Ashley Nicholls and Richard Hodgson a chance to shine.

He then resisted the temptation to tinker with the team - as previous manager Tommy Taylor so often did - for the match against the Iron and was rewarded with another impressive performance.

Darlington battled back well after ex-Quaker Martin Carruthers put the visitors ahead after just five minutes.

The home side lost Campbell to a groin injury soon after, Neil Wainwright replacing him, but equalised after 28 minutes when Ian Clark was brought down in the box and converted the penalty himself.

Keltie was a revelation in midfield and Quakers were perhaps a shade unlucky not to take all three points against a side which has been climbing the table in recent weeks.

Skipper Craig Liddle led by example at Exeter, turning out despite a thigh injury and scoring the opening goal ten minutes from half-time with a glancing header from a Hodgson cross.

Matt Clarke, on for the injured Stuart Whitehead, increased the lead with his first goal for the club just before the break.

Quakers were home and dry when Barry Conlon headed his sixth goal of the season from a Nicholls corner midway through the second half.

Nicholls himself put the icing on the cake when he followed up to score after Exeter keeper Kevin Miller had saved with his feet from substitute Glenn Naylor.

Quakers, who were drawn to visit Wrexham in the FA Cup first round on November 16, should certainly be full of confidence as they go into tomorrow's home game with Lincoln City.

However, the Imps are going well in sixth spot and should provide another stern examination of Tait's credentials for the manager's job.