Kirk Jackson showed his scoring instinct in a dream debut to ease the Quakers' relegation worries.

Darlington are now eight points above demoralised bottom-club Carlisle, who were sunk by the 24-year-old's well taken second-half strike and a superb Mark Ford goal in the first period.

Jackson, who scored 40 goals for Worksop before his move on Thursday, provided a perfect lift for only the beleaguered Quakers' second away league win of the season, and dispel some of their relegation fears.

Jackson was brought in by manager Gary Bennett to score goals, and showed a clinical striker's eye as he calmly slotted home in the 70th minute to seal victory.

The Barnet game a fortnight ago has been a turning point in the season. The new signings between them have added some much-needed composure, experience and skill, and suddenly Darlington have put together a three-game unbeaten run, and they now look well capable of avoiding the dreaded drop.

There were some very good individual performances on a tricky pitch which was covered in ice at one end.

But Darlington looked a more solid unit: goalkeeper Andy Collett made some crucial saves in the second half; the back four played well and kept their discipline; while strikers Jackson and Clint Marcelle linked up well.

Potential for the future, but Quakers aren't out of trouble yet. They are now 18th in the table, three wins above Carlisle, but they still have some six-pointer away games to come, the first tomorrow night at Torquay.

They still have to win at least three more games to guarantee safety, although Saturday's win was by far the most important of the season.

Bennett was naturally delighted with Jackson's contribution.

"People hadn't heard of Kirk when I brought him in, but he did really well when you consider that he's now playing at a different tempo and a different standard to what he's used to.

"Scoring goals is what he's good at. When he picked the ball up for his goal, he was calm, collected, and the ball was in the back of the net. That was the difference.

"He could have scored two, but his all round play was very good, and he linked up well with Clint Marcelle. He came off the field and told me that he has to get stronger. If he scores 20 goals for us next season, then we won't be able to keep him. If he scores six this season, I'll be delighted.

"I thought we started the game off well, " added Bennett.

"We created a few chances in the second half and never put them away until Kirk scored. Carlisle kept going, and Andy Collett was outstanding.

"But to come to Carlisle, get a result like we have, and keep a clean sheet is superb."

Bennett plunged Jackson straight into the deep end and played him alongside the tricky and hard-workingMarcelle, with John Williams dropping back into the right side of midfield.

Carlisle clearly didn't fancy the icy end in the opening stages, and the Quakers nearly took the lead when leading scorer Glenn Naylor headed over from a Phil Brumwell cross.

Carlisle only offered two well off target shots, before Quakers took the lead after 13 minutes.

Stuart Elliott's corner from the left wasn't cleared by the Carlisle defence, and the ball dropped nicely for Mark Ford to volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Collett then made an excellent save from a Mick Galloway free-kick and dived bravely at the feet of Ian Stevens from the resulting rebound.

And after 22 minutes, Craig Liddle glanced a drive from an acute angle by Mark Birch off the line.

Carlisle's pressure increased as Darlington were pushed back.

But the visiting side kept their composure well, with Collett's handling superb.

After the break, the Quakers started brightly; creating a few scoring chances of their own.

Naylor had a shot blocked and Elliott had another effort saved, before Jackson nearly got the second with a strike on his weaker left foot from ten yards out which home keeper Matty Glennon somehow palmed away.

Carlisle pushed three men up front with the introduction of former Hartlepool striker Steve Halliday after 54 minutes, but it was Quakers who scored a vital second goal after 70 minutes.

Marcelle, in space on the right, played a perfect through ball for Jackson, who took the ball in his stride and side-footed past the advancing Glennon.

Some of the home fans headed for the exits, but they missed their side's best spell of the match.

Collett dived bravely to save at the feet of Scott Dobie and Stevens, and went full length to push a fierce header from Dobie around the right-hand post.

And when he blocked another effort from Dobie, Carlisle gave up - an omen that could well bode badly for their existence in the Football League