Darlington wasted chance after chance on Saturday with Barry Conlon amongst the chief culprits.

He has now played every minute of all three games this season without getting on the scoresheet and admits that statistic is beginning to become a burden on his broad shoulders.

Although it should be pointed out that Conlon sets up his fair share of opportunities for teammates and assisted both of Ian Clark's strikes this season, he said: "It has been on my mind a bit but I'll be thinking about it more for the rest of this week because of the score.

"I haven't been thinking about it that much recently because in the last couple of games we've got a couple of goals and got decent results.

"But as the result didn't go our way I'm going to start to think about what I did and the chances we had.

"It is frustrating and all the lads are disappointed but there's nobody more disappointed than myself.

"All I can do is keep plugging away and hopefully a goal will come.

"The gaffer said we should take at look ourselves when we go home and take it onboard for next week so that we don't make the same mistakes again."

Conlon was given a rough ride by the Oxford defensive pairing of Matt Bound and former Quaker Andy Crosby.

The duo had obviously been briefed on the Irishman's aerial threat as they paid close attention to Darlington's number 13.

"They had a couple of big lads at the back but I think I won my fair share of headers," said Conlon.

"Crosby was pulling at my shirt a bit but the referee said we were pulling each others' shirt - it's what you expect because you aren't going to get much in your favour from the referees."

Crosby, who made over 200 appearances in a black and white shirt between 1993 and '98, was treated to some harsh abuse from some sections of the Feethams crowd who, perhaps, have wiped from the memory the fact he became the first ever Darlington captain to lead Quakers out at Wembley in 1996.

* The Darlington Supporters Trust hold their latest fans' forum tomorrow night (7.30pm) with some players expected to be in attendance.

* Darlington's under-19 Youth Alliance team beat Grimsby 3-2 on Saturday morning at Maiden Castle in Durham.

* Several former Quakers have wasted little time in getting themselves amongst the action this season.

Saturday afternoon saw Lee Nogan and Peter Duffield both on target during York City's 4-3 win over Torquay while Marco Gabbiadini grabbed his second and third goals so far with a brace at Cardiff.

Phil Brumwell had a trial with UniBond League Whitby Town last week but played for rivals Blyth Spartans in a 4-1 at Lancaster City.

But Sean Gregan, now of West Brom, is sure not to forget his Premiership bow at Old Trafford in a hurry.

He was on the end of a crunching trademark Roy Keane tackle, who then kicked out at the former Darlington man for which the Irishman received a yellow card.

Read more about the Quakers here.