Paul Beavers became an instant hit at Feethams with a last ditch winner to put Quakers fifth in the table -- and earn an apology from manager Gary Bennett.

Quakers looked as if they were heading for a frustrating goalless draw against the Cumbrians, until Beavers, signed from Oldham a month ago, popped up with the winner to change the mood at Feethams.

It was easy to see why Quakers have one of the best defensive, and worst offensive, records in the league.

It seemed as if they would never score, because they struggled to break down a well-organised visiting defence due to a lack of inventiveness and the Cumbrians' occasional rough-house tactics.

The introduction of Beavers midway through the second half gave Quakers the timely lift they needed. Maybe Beavers can fill the vacancy alongside the hard-working Nogan on a more permanent basis -- on this performance at least he showed some physical presence, which has been lacking this season. .

With the midfield subdued and the attack snuffed out on the edge of the box, Carlisle keeper Luke Weaver had very few saves to make, and he might have a few words this morning with Ian Stevens and Scott Dobie, who both missed good chances with just Andy Collett to beat.

Bennett has revealed that he's looking for a new striker in the last week, and it's easy to see why, because his team has scored twice on just one occasion in the league this season -- and that was on the road at the end of August at Southend.

Bennett decided to play Paul Campbell up front alongside Lee Nogan, but again the Welshman was again on his own most of the time, because Campbell's instincts prompted him to play more in midfield.

And with Carlisle's five man defence hardly moving into Quakers' half, then there was an almost permanent blue wall which Quakers couldn't breach until Beavers arrived, despite playing with two wide men.

"We like to pass the ball around and create chances," said Bennett. "We played with two wingers, but that didn't come off, so we had to go a bit more direct.

"When we had three forwards on the field, it paid off because it caused them more problems.

"We will have more games like Saturday's at Feethams. Teams will come here and do the same things which Carlisle did, by putting nine men behind the ball and try and hit us on the break. It won't be the last of games like that.

"And there will also be teams coming here who will stop us by any means. Carlisle kicked, pulled and did everything they could to knock us out of our rhythm.

"The fans are frustrated, but so are the players, and so am I. We are trying to do our best."

Bennett revealed that he had blasted Beavers for his performance at Bradford City last Monday.

"I'm delighted with the way he finished. I brought him to the club to put himself about, and I told him during the week that I was disappointed with the way he'd been since he arrived.

"I had a go at him at Bradford, but I apologised to him after Saturday's game. He went on to the field and proved me wrong. But I want that from him every game now."

Carlisle could have made life even more difficult for Quakers if they had taken a good chance after just 33 seconds, when Ian Stevens found Scott Dobie just twelve yards out, but Andy Collett saved well at his feet.

And Darlington's best chance of the half came just a minute later, when Mark Angel, making his full league debut, worked his way in from the right and put a left foot shot just wide.

Because of Carlisle's unwillingness to push defenders forward, Quakers' attacks consistently broke down on the edge of the area, and they had to rely on long range shots which didn't really trouble Weaver, and a Stuart Elliott free kick from way out on the left which almost caught the keeper out of position.

And Carlisle had another great chance after 31 minutes when former Darlington midfielder Anthony Carss put Ian Stevens through, but again Collett came to the rescue witha fine save at the foot of his post.

Jesper Hjorth replaced Angel at half time with Campbell dropping back into midfield, but Quakers still couldn't break through.

Injuries to Gary Himsworth and Hjorth didn't help Quakers' impetus which Bennett tried to improve by sending on Beavers just after the hour.

The former Sunderland player immediately got into thick of the action, and lifted the crowd by scattering a couple of Carlisle bodies in the six yard box. Quakers had two penalty appeals turned down, the first for a challenge by Tony Hemmings on Hjorth, the second a more blatant push by Stu Whitehead on Nogan, who was booked for his protests.

When Elliott put a free kick from Gray well wide, a goalless draw seemed inevitable.

But Hjorth won a free kick on the right, Elliott floated the ball to the far post where Beavers chested it down and volleyed past Weaver.

Maybe not the most convincing of victories -- but if you're struggling to score like Darlington are, who cares?

Matchfacts;

Darlington 1 Carlisle United (Ht 1-0)

Goal; Beavers (88 mins)

Bookings; Tracey, Gray, Beavers, LeMarchand, Winstanley (all fouls), Heggs (ungentlemanly conduct), Nogan (dissent)

Attendance; 4,316

Darlignton (4-4-2); Collett 7; Reed 6, Aspin 7, Liddle 7, Himsworth 6 (sub Walklate 68 mins, 6); Angel 6 (sub Hjorth 45 mins, 6)GRAY 7, Elliott 6, Hodgson 6 (sub Beavers 62 mins, 7); Nogan 6, Campbell 6. Subs not used; Kilty, Finch (g/k)

Carlisle United; (5-2-3); Weaver 6; Birch 6, Whitehead 7, Winstanley 7, Darby 6, Inglis 6; HEMMINGS 7 (sub Lee 90 mins), Carss 6; Dobie 6, Stevens 6 (sub LeMarchand 81 mins), Tracey 6 (sub Heggs 72 mins) Subs not used; Johnson, Prokas

Referee; Mike Riley (Leeds)

Man of the match; Martin Gray -- typical passionate and hard working performance from the skipper.