Darlington manager Gary Bennett will tell centre forward John Williams to prove his doubters wrong when Quakers go to York City for their crucial basement battle today.

Quakers go to Bootham Crescent two points in front of their neighbours, with the gap between them and bottom club Carlisle now just six points after the Cumbrians drew with the Minstermen on Tuesday.

Defeat today for Quakers, who haven't lost in their last three away games, will sound the alarm bells loud and clear as they could be third from bottom tonight, depending on other results.

Williams is returning to Bootham Crescent for the first time since he was freed by boss Terry Dolan in December after playing just seven games this season - one of them for York in the 1-1 draw at Feethams.

But Bennett believes that the former Coventry player could be Quakers' match-winner this afternoon as they hope to repeat their 4-0 win in the LDV Vans Trophy in early January.

"John has made a big difference to us since he came," said Bennett.

"He has a score to settle with York, but he doesn't need me to remind him of that. A players always wants to do well when he returns to his old club and John wants to make a point.

"Since he arrived here, he has offered us more than we've had for a while.

"He has added pace and height to the forward line, while he has the ability to hold on to the ball and bring other players into the game.

"Before he came, maybe we were a little bit one-paced up front, but now we are creating havoc for other defences."

Williams missed the LDV Vans Trophy tie because of injury and after joining Quakers six games ago, scored the equaliser in the draw at Plymouth three weeks ago.

Bennett, who includes new signing Mark Convery in his squad, is fully aware of the importance of today's six-pointer.

"As long as we go there and don't get beaten we'll be happy," he said.

"But I will be looking for a similar performance to the one we produced in the LDV Vans Trophy last month.

"We were playing a virtual full-strength York but we created chances and put them away.

"If we can do that again today, then we won't have a problem. Last week we created chances at Lincoln but couldn't put them away.

"Missing chances has been our problem all season but I'd be even more worried if we weren't creating them at all."

Bennett denied yesterday that he is interested in re-signing striker Lee Nogan, who has been training with Quakers after being released by Luton Town