ROOKIE goalkeeper David Stockdale has played a crucial role in Darlington's promising start to the season, but he says one of his predecessors is to thank for his good form.

Former Quakers keeper Andy Collett is now the club's goalkeeping coach and Stockdale, who saved a penalty in Saturday's draw at Macclesfield Town, says Collett's influence on the training ground has been crucial.

Collett made almost 150 appearances for the club before retiring in 2004 and has since worked with Darlington's keepers and it was on his recommendation that then manager David Hodgson signed Stockdale from York in the summer of 2006.

In his first campaign Stockdale did not enjoy the best of times but this season has seen the 21-year-old rise to the challenge of replacing Andy Oakes, keeping three clean sheets in four League Two games.

The newly-formed defence has also been crucial, but Stockdale says Collett deserves credit.

"Andy is a massive influence,"

said Stockdale who turns 22 later this month. "For the last year or so he has put a lot of time and effort into me. He has even come in on days off and might have fallen out with his Mrs over it a few times!

"He has put 110 per cent into me and he doesn't get as much credit as I think he should. We drew on Saturday but, who knows, without him we might not have done.

"I feel the form that I've got now is all down to Andy and I've got the utmost respect for him.

"Everyday is a blessing for me.

I still have my ups and downs, everybody does, but I thank Andy for what he has done for me and this is how I can best repay him."

Stockdale's impressive first half penalty save to deny Kevin McIntyre helped Darlington maintain their unbeaten start to the season, but he preferred a second half save which stopped Martin Gritton from scoring.

"On another day their player might have gone for the other corner and I wouldn't have saved it, it was just goalkeeper's instinct really," said Stockdale.

"I liked the save in the second half. I like making saves anyway but it was made during play, unlike the penalty, and we were under the cosh in an away game at a difficult place to play.

"I am loving playing behind this defence and, like the gaffer has said, there's still more to come from this team."

■ Tickets for Darlington's match at Rotherham United on Saturday (kick-off 1pm) are available at a reduced rate from Quakers' main ticket office.

Tickets bought in advance cost £18 for adults, £10 for seniors, £10 for students and £6 for juniors (up to 16 years of age) which is a saving of £2 on matchday prices.