Ashley Nicholls could not have asked for a better start to his career.

He collected the ball near the corner of the Cambridge penalty area, considered laying the ball off to a teammate, before letting fly with a superb bending shot.

Goalkeeper Shaun Marshall would not have stopped the shot if he'd had five minutes notice and a set of step ladders.

The goal was fit to grace any stage, never mind the Abbey Stadium on Saturday.

The strike sealed all three points for Nicholls' new club - and all of this happened with proud friends and family in attendance having travelled from his hometown of Ipswich.

The delighted youngster beamed afterwards: "I didn't see it go in at first. I was looking and looking but I couldn't see where it was going because of the players in the way. But when it went in I was quite pleased you could say!

"Adam Rundle ran across my path and I'd thought about passing to him but it's a good job I didn't."

Nicholls, who attracted the interest of Grimsby Town and Hereford United before signing for Darlington, immediately raced over to the visiting fans for whom he had some kind words.

"I like the fans. The people from up North love their football," he said.

"I couldn't believe how many people came down to see us play. They seem to be a bit more passionate than anybody else."

But, remarkably, the 20-year-old says Saturday's strike wasn't the best of his career.

"I once scored an overhead-kick for Ipswich reserves from the edge of the box which was pretty good - but this was a good goal too."

Nicholls' only previous experience away from Portman Road was a spell on loan at Canvey Island last season and he found Saturday's step up to League level somewhat of a test.

He admitted: "It was a harder game to get in to. You have to keep your concentration longer because you don't see the ball as much and there were a lot more balls going down the line and a lot more long balls.

"I'm pretty happy with my performance. If I hadn't scored the goal I don't think I'd have been as happy. But I didn't get on the ball as much as I'd like to."

After his first strike in Quaker colours, Darlington will be hoping he gets on the ball a lot more often - especially when he's near the opposition's goal.

Read more about the Quakers here.