AN impressive performance which included a fantastic goal, gave Darlington their first win since the Bank Holiday victory over Bristol Rovers and ended Leyton Orient's four-game winning run.

Quakers were never in trouble and thoroughly deserved a win which puts the promotion dream back on track after three games without tasting victory and sets Darlington up nicely for Saturday's match at home to lowly Exeter City.

Gary Bennett's side bossed the majority of the game with several players putting in good performances, while Orient certainly did not look like the Division's form team.

Darlington had to overcome a first-half penalty miss when Mark Ford saw his effort saved by Scott Barrett.

The penalty would have been Ford's fourth goal of the season, but his effort lacked real power.

Despite holding possession for the vast majority of the first half, Darlington had to wait until injury time before opening the scoring.

The strike was a scrappy goal, coming after some hesitancy in the Orient penalty area from which Barry Conlon capitalised to fire past the keeper.

Quakers's second goal was a superb team effort with Heckingbottom supplying the final touch.

It began deep in Darlington's own half several swift passes forward involving Mark Convery and Danny Mellanby put the left back through on goal who made no mistake in scoring his first of the season.

The remainder of the match was easy for Darlington as Orient failed to apply any pressure to Andy Collett's goal.

With five minutes remaining substitute Steve Harper, who had entered the fray for the tireless Richard Hodgson, punished Barrett who had failed to deal with a poor Dean Smith back pass by dispossessing the goalkeeper and finishing off the scoring.

l Billingham Synthonia went top of the Albany Northern League with a 3-2 home win over Consett at Central Avenue last night.

After a goalless first half Synners took the lead after 55 minutes when Dave O'Gorman set up Lee Flannigan to score with a header. Chris Fawcett made it 2-0 at 66 minutes and two minutes Flannigan races clear for the third.

But Consett fought back in the closing stages with youngster Jamie Routledge scoring twice in the last five minutes.

Champions Bedlington lost by 3-2 at Dunston.

Nicky Scaife and Andrew Fletcher put Dunston in control but goals from Anthony Chapman and Micky Cross settled the issue for Bedlington.

But Fletcher popped up with the winner late in the game.

Guisborough Town came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Newcastle Blue Star. Micky Waller put through his own goal to give Blue Star the lead after nine minutes and Lee Suddes made it 2-0 at 64 minutes with a low shot.

But then star defender Chris Knox put through his own goal to give Guisborough a late hope and in the dying minutes Jamie Clark chipped the keeper for a point.

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