Somehow, almost illogically, out of form Darlington still have a good chance of reaching the play-offs. Makes you wonder where they would be had they been blessed with a regular goalscorer this season.

Prior to Saturday, Quakers' results had not been those of a side chasing promotion, losing five of their previous six games.

With seven points separating David Hodgson's side from the top seven, the season seemed effectively over and some supporters' thoughts were already switching to next season. Yet another year in the basement division.

One supporter's article in the club's official match programme summed up the mood of resignation, saying: "At least we are not in a relegation dogfight . . . I am sure we all agree this season has turned out to be a disappointment." The comment summed up the subdued mood, especially during a low-key first half.

But then at 4.03pm - when Guy Bates opened the scoring on his first home start - Quakers' season was suddenly resuscitated, brought back to life with a deft flick of the head from one of Darlington's 11 strikers this campaign.

Three minutes into the second half, with almost all their rivals losing, Bates' injection of adrenaline kick-started Quakers who had ambled through a horrific first 30 minutes before improving in the last 15.

Kick-and-rush Lincoln were on top but only the occasional sound of players stamping on the stray balloons that made their way onto the pitch from the Lincoln supporters pierced a lifeless affair.

Towards the end of the first half, Andy Cooke wasted a great opportunity, lifting over the crossbar with only the Lincoln keeper to beat. The miss was typical of not only Cooke's stay with Quakers but also of Darlington's fortunes with strikers this season.

He has been unable to deliver the goals at the end of a season in which Hodgson has continually searched for replacements for his strike-pairing at the beginning of the campaign, Clyde Wijnhard and Simon Johnson.

The manager thought he had stumbled across a solution in Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, a player who last summer Hodgson decided would be a reserve and deemed worthy of only a six-month contract.

Big mistake.

Eleven goals later and Cardiff City took advantage of his short-term deal and took him to the Championship where he is struggling to prove himself.

If Ndumbu-Nsungu is the one that got away, Michael Bridges is the one that would have surely made all the difference.

Hodgson wanted him long before Carlisle showed any interest but Quakers could not compete with the Cumbrians' financial clout and it is they who are now reaping the rewards.

When Bridges signed for Carlisle in November they were five points off the top of League Two, but his 12 goals in 20 games, plus several goals he has created, have propelled them to the summit where they are now three points clear with a game in hand. Instead, Darlington settled for Tresor Kandol who came and went, but not before proving he is not worth £50,000 of anyone's money, and ever since Hodgson has signed a new player seemingly every week.

Players in all positions have been tried out as previous chairman Stewart Davies permitted Hodgson to sign a raft of loanees and short-term measures. The six strikers coming in: Kyle Lafferty, Paul Hopkins, Jemal Johnson, Taiwo Atieno, Cooke and Bates have all signed since Ndumbu-Nsungu headed for Wales.

The constant changing must do little for building an understanding between team-mates and, for the same reason, scouts must have problems compiling comprehensive reports on Darlington's usual line-up because they do not have one.

Hodgson kept the same team only three times last season; he's managed it once this term. Neither can he stick with a formation - from 3-5-2, to 4-5-1, to a traditional 4-4-2 to a 4-4-2 featuring a midfield diamond, to 4-3-3 and back again, Hodgson has tried them all.

But at least this unpredictable approach must keep opposition managers on their toes. Surely Lincoln boss Keith Alexander was not expecting Darlington to line-up in a 4-3-3 with Bates coming in for only his second ever start - he had not even made the bench for the previous three matches.

Since the short-lived Wijnhard and Johnson partnership disbanded early in the season, Bates is one of nine more strikers to have featured and, until Saturday, of the numerous loanee forwards, only Lafferty left a favourable impression.

But two sublime finishes from Jemal Johnson against Lincoln were enough to explain why Hodgson had been trying to sign him since he turned professional at Blackburn Rovers at the beginning of last season.

He had failed to trouble the goalkeeper in each of his previous three games but, on Saturday, Johnson's gazelle-like pace, with and without the ball, gave Lincoln a headache.

Their giant defenders are fine when the ball is in the air but not so confident when they have a 5ft 8ins Whirling Dervish racing at them.

Both goals came from narrow angles on the left, with the first blasted past a static keeper after being played in by Joe Kendrick. Despite the ball being at his feet, the second strike saw Johnson out-pace Lincoln right-back Colin Cryan before a composed finish for 4-1.

Johnson, 21, looked eager for more goals and were it not for a bobble on a poor pitch, he could have had a hat-trick, but nobody will mind if he has saved another super strike for tomorrow night at Rochdale.

Quakers can leap to within one point of the play-off zone by beating Rochdale, though that would mean winning back-to-back games for only the second time this season.

As it stands, the top six places appear to be spoken for, which leaves a clutch of clubs vying for that one remaining play-off place - and Darlington still have a lot to do of they are to snatch it.

Historically, 70 points is the minimum required, meaning Darlington would need to win six of their last seven matches.

But because of the inconsistency of themselves and those around them, perhaps a lesser total could be enough to finish seventh.

Wrexham are the only other team near Darlington in the table with a game in hand, but that does not come until next week - away to Chester - so tomorrow night Hodgson's side have an ideal opportunity to put the pressure on their rivals.

But pulling themselves back into contention would not have been a concern had they had a had player throughout the season with the goalscoring potential of Ndumbu-Nsungu or Bridges.

Hodgson will be hoping his 18-month pursuit of Johnson has been as worthwhile as his goals on Saturday suggested.

Read more about the Quakers here.