ATTENTION was already being focused on prospects for next season as Darlington ended the current campaign with a 2-1 win at Oxford United last Saturday.

The virtually meaningless match was the last in a Quakers shirt for left back Paul Heckingbottom, but the travelling faithful did receive some good news afterwards when manager Tommy Taylor announced that captain Craig Liddle would not be leaving the club.

On the pitch, the most interesting aspect of the game at the Kassam Stadium was Taylor's introduction of a new formation which he hopes to play regularly next term.

Instead of his usual two wingers, the Quakers boss employed a man just behind two strikers with a midfielder behind him and two out wide.

But it was Oxford who scored first after 57 minutes when Jamie Brooks pounced on a poor Simon Betts back pass to round keeper Chris Porter.

Darlington equalised 15 minutes later with Glenn Naylor's first goal since returning from a year off through injury, the striker tapping in after a good passing move.

Nayor then went off with an arm injury and his replacement, Mark Sheeran, enhanced his reputation as a super sub with the winning goal five minutes after coming on.

The three points completed Quakers' only league double of the season, although the achievement was marred by Mark Ford's sending off for a retaliatory kick near the end.

For the record, Darlington ended a disappointing season, which will be remembered more for events off the field than on it, in 15th position.