CARLTON Palmer could be in for a rough ride from the Hartlepool United faithful as Stockport visit Victoria Park tonight.

The Stockport manager, a former Sheffield Wednesday teammate of Pool boss Chris Turner, makes his first visit to Victoria Park since being embroiled in a verbal spat with Pool legend Brian Honour ten years ago.

Honour accused Palmer of intimidatory tactics as the sides met in the League Cup in October 1992, with Pool striker Gordon Watson part of the Wednesday team that night.

The players clashed during the 2-2 draw, with Palmer grabbing hold of Honour and shoving him to the floor before Honour accused Palmer of telling him: "I don't know how you manage on £300 a week, I'll show you my wage packet" and "When you have a day off, I'll show you round one of my houses and you can drive one of my cars."

Honour has since left Victoria Park, but Turner for one is looking forward to renewing his friendship with the former England midfielder.

Turner will field a first-choice line-up - Paul Smith should play after missing Saturday's win over Berwick with knee trouble suffered in the 12-0 win over Theole a fortnight ago - and the manager admitted: "It is an important game for us. It's all about preparing for Carlisle on August 10, but we will be tested more against Stockport than we have been so far.

"We've played against teams from a lower level and now we have four home games where we are playing against higher opposition.

"They play a better standard of football and even though we have beaten Berwick and the teams in Holland, there is still a lot more to come from us.''

l The draw for the first round of the Worthington Cup will be made at 10am today, with the games taking place in the week commencing September 9.

l A youthful Pool team last night won 2-1 at Seaham. Adam Boyd and Paul Stephenson were on target and trialist Niall McNamara was substituted in the second-half.

l Darlington clinched a place in the Isle of Man Football Festival final with a hard fought 2-1 success over Rochdale last night.

Tommy Taylor's side set up a clash with Wrexham on Saturday courtesy of goals from new boy Ashley Nicholls and Barry Conlon.

But Quakers rode their luck after a first half in which Rochdale struck the woodwork three times.

Goalkeeper Andy Collett had an inspired evening and was forced to tip away a 25-yard free kick from Rochdale's player-manager Paul Simpson after just eight minutes.

Darlington took the lead with with a slick counter attack when Conlon broke down the left. His low cross evaded a packed penalty area and Ian Clark touched the ball back at the far post into the path of Nicholls who blasted home.

Quakers had their biggest escape on the stroke of half-time when former Hartlepool midfielder Chris Beech turned in the box and his strike hit Collett's left hand post before rolling away.

There was an explosive start to the second period. Rochdale levelled within two minutes of the restart when Neil Maddison was harshly adjudged to have pushed Beech in the box and Lee McEvilly slotted home the penalty.

However, Quakers regained the lead within 90 seconds when Clark released Conlon down the right and he cut inside before drilling the ball past Edwards.

Collett had to produce two superb saves to deny substitute Paul Connor, but Quakers nearly extended their lead through long range efforts from Nicholls and man of the match Conlon.

Darlington: Collett, Betts (Wainwright 67), Valentine, McGurk, Reed, Maddison, Keltie, Clark, Conlon, Nicholls, Rundle

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