Darlington boss David Hodgson last night lavished praise on Neil Wainwright for the way in which the player they call 'Casper' has raised spirits.

Wainwright may not be the most gifted of attackers, but what he lacks in skill, the 27-year-old makes up for in the positive impact he has on the side.

The winger lifted his team-mates from the doldrums to inspire Quakers to a 3-1 win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

He arrived off the bench to score Quakers' equaliser 15 minutes from time, before Jonjo Dickman and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu completed the fightback.

"We had to make a decision that would raise the tempo and Wainy provided that," said Hodgson.

"He will make ten runs in a game, but invariably only one or two crosses are productive.

"But, at the end the end of the day he lifts players and he lifts the crowd.

"He's an opportunist who does a lot of things off the cuff. When he gets chances around the box he will hit the target."

Hodgson was also quick to play down the impact made by his decision to bring Wainwright on at the weekend.

"It wasn't an inspired substitution, it was done because our gameplan wasn't working in the first half," said Hodgson.

"I made a decision at half-time that Wainy would come on early in the second half and he turned the game for us."

Meanwhile, the return of Brian Close and Clark Keltie has been put on hold after yesterday's reserve game at the Darlington Football Stadium was postponed due to the heavy rain.

l Hartlepool United must cope with three suspensions this weekend after their appeal against Mark Tinkler's red card was yesterday dismissed.

Tinkler was red carded in the closing stages of Saturday's win over MK Dons, along with visiting substitute Aaron Wilbraham.

Both clubs appealed against the decision, but the FA has upheld the decision of referee Colin Webster.

That means Micky Nelson, Ben Clark and Tinkler will all sit out Saturday's trip to Port Vale after each were dismissed in the last three games.

"It's very disappointing because we felt both players didn't deserve to go,'' said boss Martin Scott. "Yes they had a little dig, but nothing that doesn't go on all day.

"It was hard on us on Saturday having to play the last few minutes a man down but the effects last longer - it's not just the red card because we will miss him for three games.

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