DARLINGTON'S hopes of avoiding relegation were strengthened on Saturday - even though they didn't kick a ball at Mansfield.

Quakers had to sit back and cross their fingers because they received a 10am call just before they departed on Saturday morning telling them that Mansfield's Field Mill pitch was waterlogged and the match postponed.

Matches involving four of the teams below them were also postponed, but after taking the lead at Cardiff, bottom club Torquay lost 2-1 to remain six points behind Quakers having played a game more.

And a last-minute equaliser by Cheltenham at Barnet means that the Londoners are one point behind Quakers having played three games more.

It again means that Quakers can take a giant step towards safety if they beat Shrewsbury at Feethams tomorrow night.

"It is a massive game for us now," said skipper Craig Liddle.

"If we win on Tuesday night, then we can go nine points clear of Torquay, and that will be a big gap to close, especially as our goal difference is better than theirs.

"We have two games per week now for the rest of the season, but the lads are ready for that - they're all pumped up for it. We will have the stamina for it."

Wing back Steve Harper would have been doubtful for the Mansfield game because of a virus, otherwise manager Gary Bennett would probably have named an unchanged side.

Saturday's postponement was the fifth loss to the weather in the League this season for Quakers. Trips to Exeter and Torquay have been lost to the weather, while the home games against Shrewsbury and Rochdale also fell foul. Two LDV games at York have also been postponed.

No new date has yet been fixed, but the only possibility appears to be Tuesday May 1, as Quakers have midweek away trips to Brighton and Torquay to come.

Keeper Frank Van Der Geest could be in action before the end of the season.

The Dutchman has been suffering from a back injury, but he might be back in action sooner than was thought.

Assistant manager Mick Tait said: "Frank has done a lot of training in the last week, and has started kicking the ball again. We will have to wait and see if there's any reaction before we step up his training."

Another injured keeper, Andy Collett, is due to see a specialist about his broken thumb today.

l Oxford suffered the indignity of being the first side to be relegated to Division Three with seven games still to be played after Oldham beat them by the only goal at the Manor Ground.

With a draw the likely result which would not have been enough to save them, David Eyres put them out of the misery a minute from the end of normal time with a stunning 20-yard free kick which Richard Knight in the Oxford goal never saw.

Oxford almost scored in the first minute when a cross from Sam Ricketts was inches out of the reach of the sliding Andy Scott in front of goal.

The two best chances fell to Scott but he wasted them with shots too close to Gary Kelly.