WYCOMBE Wanderers may have salvaged a share of the spoils on Saturday, but Darlington had already won one battle with their League Two rivals before a ball had even been kicked at the weekend, writes Lee Hall.

Tresor Kandol could have been playing for either side on Saturday after Wycombe made a last-ditch attempt to hijack Darlington's bid to land the Dagenham striker.

Wanderers' boss John Gorman made an approach to sign Kandol on Thursday after leading scorer Nathan Tyson moved to Nottingham Forest.

But, while Kandol honoured Wanderers' invite for talks, he had already set his heart on a move to Quakers after meeting with manager David Hodgson.

He said: "It was like a little fight. On Thursday both were wanting my signature, but as soon as I met the manager and the rest of the boys at Darlington the choice was easy."

Despite Wycombe's interest, Kandol agreed terms with Quakers on Thursday, joining the club on loan until the transfer window re-opens in January, with a view to a permanent deal.

"It all happened very quickly," admitted Kandol. "On Wednesday morning I was training with Dagenham and, after David Hodgson called me, I was in Darlington later that day.

"I agreed everything that night, flew back to Dagenham and then I was back up to Darlington on Friday morning."

While the forward failed to make a scoring start to his Quakers career, Kandol was upbeat after the entertaining draw.

"It's always difficult coming into a new team and I don't think I should be too disappointed," said Kandol. "I only came in two days ago, I'm still getting to know everyone."

The 24-year-old had few scoring opportunities on his debut. However, the striker, who has scored six goals for Dagenham this season, believes once he has had time to work with his new team-mates, it will only be a matter of time before he opens his account.

He said: "I had two half chances, but when you're still getting to know how everyone plays it takes some time to learn their game and them to know yours."

And despite training with Quakers for the first time on Friday, Kandol admitted he is still at the 'getting to know you stage'.

He explained: "Sometimes, when you want to make a run, you call a player's name, but that was difficult for me because I'd only met everyone on Friday."

While Kandol was presented with only a half sight of goal on Saturday, the ex-Luton forward is confident he is the man to solve Hodgson's scoring problems.

"You always want to get that first goal and when you get that it just flows," said Kandol. "I'm happy the manager has brought me to the club to score goals and hopefully I can do that for him.''

During a career, which has seen Kandol play for Luton, Cambridge, Bournemouth, Chesham United, Thurrock and more recently, Dagenham - for whom he signed for during the summer - the Banga-born forward boasts 85 goals in 126 appearances.

And, while the majority of those strikes were recorded in the Nationwide Conference South for Thurrock, Kandol insists: "Wherever you play, as long as you've got the ability to score it will happen. If you know how to finish, you know how to finish, whether it's in non-league or higher."

Read more about the Quakers here.