QUAKERS came out of an Easter programme from hell with their honour intact and three more vital points in the bag.

The fixtures computer had decreed that Darlington had to follow Saturday's Feethams game against third-placed Cardiff City with a trip to second-placed - and newly-promoted - Brighton on Easter Monday.

The result? A 2-0 home win followed by an away defeat by a similar score.

But manager Gary Bennett could take pride from his side's performances.

Brighton scored both their goals inside two minutes in the first half of

By Andy Brown

their promotion party. First Richard Carpenter shot home a loose ball from the edge of the box, then star striker Bobby Zamora beat Andy Collett with a powerful header.

Quakers more than held their own in the second half, with young midfielder Mark Convery outstanding, and substitute Kirk Jackson had several chances, hitting the bar with one lob.

Against a physical Cardiff City side, it was Quakers' turn to score two first-half goals. After 12 minutes former Bluebirds' favourite John Williams beat a defender and scored with a low shot from 20 yards.

As the half-hour mark approached, in-form winger Richard Hodgson beat two men and his cross from the byline was neatly converted by top scorer Glenn Naylor to take his league tally for the season into double figures.

Keeper Collett, restored to the side after injury, pulled off a wonder save from point blank range as Cardiff fought back.

Quakers are now 15th in the Nationwide Third Division, and one more win would secure their safety.

Tomorrow they face Hull City - and former manager Brian Little - at Feethams, while on Tuesday they make the long trip to Torquay