BEFORE Saturday, Kyle Lafferty and Paul Hopkins had never even met.

It was only after manager David Hodgson was faced with a striker crisis that the pair crossed paths for the first time, briefly on Friday, after moving up to the North-East on month-long loans.

With Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu holding out for a move to Cardiff City, Tresor Kandol back at Dagenham and Simon Johnson and Akpo Sodje both suspended, Hodgson had little choice and even less to lose in moving quickly to secure the services of Lafferty and Hopkins.

Given their unfamiliarity with each other it would have been excusable and widely accepted for Quakers' new strike pairing not to instantly hit it off at Meadow Lane.

But, certainly in the opening 45 minutes, there was enough to suggest there is life after Ndumbu-Nsungu and, discussions pending, Kandol.

Only a catastrophic goalkeeper crisis prevented the duo from developing their growing understanding with each other into the second half.

It's safe to assume Hodgson has had it up to the proverbial eye balls with unpredictable overseas strikers this season.

In snapping up Lafferty (from Burnley) and Hopkins (from Everton), Hodgson has two young strikers champing at the bit to prove their credentials. Safe bets in Hodgson's eyes.

Danny Graham proved a huge success when he made the short trip from Middlesbrough two seasons ago. On Saturday there was evidence to suggest Hodgson's latest young recruits can enjoy similar fruition.

Indeed, both Burnley and Everton's watching scouts will have returned to their respective managers with favourable reports.

A goal for Lafferty on his Quakers debut will have gone down well with Burnley boss Steve Cotterill, while the pacey Hopkins did little wrong on his Football League bow.

Even at such short notice Hodgson and his assistant Mark Proctor had done their homework on two players, whose contrasting strengths, ultimately complimented each other.

Kevin Phillips made his name at Sunderland playing off Niall Quinn and Lafferty - at 6ft 4ins - acted as a similar target man alongside Hopkins on Saturday.

As early as 15 seconds, Lafferty rose above County defender Andy White to head into the path of Hopkins, who was only just narrowly beaten to the ball by Julien Baudet.

However, it was Hopkins' inexperience, which almost cost Quakers dear in the sixth minute - the 18-year-old inadvertently playing the ball to County striker Jake Sheridan, before Joe Kendrick came to the rescue.

Despite Lafferty's aerial presence, County deployed two of their three central defenders on Hopkins, recognising the danger Quakers' smaller striker posed on the ground.

But, in the 19th minute Hopkins proved just as big a threat in the air when he nipped in ahead of Brian O'Callaghan to head Carlos Logan's cross against the post. The move was started and finished by Hopkins, who had so far eclipsed fellow new boy Lafferty.

When Quakers were reduced to ten men in the 38th minute after Jonjo Dickman suffered a head injury Lafferty was drafted in to midfield where he earned a booking for a foul on Dan Martin.

The Irishman's frustration soon turned to elation on the stroke of half-time. After Lafferty won a corner, the Enniskillen-born forward volleyed past Kevin Pilkington from Logan's cross to give Quakers the lead.

Cruelly, an injury to goalkeeper David Knight - replaced by midfielder Phil Stamp at the interval - effectively brought Lafferty and Hopkins' afternoon to a premature end.

After substitute Steve Scoffman levelled, Lafferty was withdrawn on the hour mark, making way for Matty Appleby, as Hopkins was joined in attack by defender Matt Clarke.

But, with County in control and keen to test Stamp at every available opportunity, Hopkins saw few opportunities to impress in the second 45 minutes.

The Liverpool-born striker could only look on as County went 3-1 up through Martin and Baudet, before Logan pulled a goal back late on.

Read more about the Quakers here.