Darlington manager Alun Armstrong says that he might make changes again for Saturday's home game against Chorley at Blackwell Meadows.
He raised a few eyebrows before Tuesday’s encounter at Fylde when he made six changes to the team that drew at Gloucester three days before, but his decision was proved to be entirely justified as Quakers produced their best away performance of the season with a 2-1 win.
“Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t,” said Armstrong. “It worked to a T, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to finish the game. Some players hadn’t played for a week or two, and they were really, really fresh. They were raring to go and maybe to prove a point as well.
“We learned from our mistake against Gateshead at Christmas. We didn’t change any personnel that day, and we ended up being given the run around off a full-time team, who hadn’t played a game for a few days beforehand, whereas two days earlier, we’d played at Spennymoor.
“It was exactly the same scenario on Tuesday. Fylde’s home game against Telford had been postponed the previous Saturday, and we’d made the long journey down to Gloucester.
“It was an extremely tough game on Tuesday, we were forced on to the back foot which I don’t like to do, but we defended ever so well. I was still disappointed in the goal we conceded.
"They didn’t really give Tommy Taylor much to do, but we conceded a free kick in a dangerous position and they have a player who is deadly from that range.
“After having a rest in midweek, the other lads are now raring to go. One or two others in the squad might want a rest, but they’ll have to play because our squad isn’t big enough.
"I’ve told the lads that the squad will change constantly because we’ve got some midweek games coming, and then there’s Easter. Everyone will have to be ready when they’re called upon.”
Armstrong left defender Danny Ellis, midfielders Danny Rose, Jack Lambert and Will Hatfield plus striker Jake Cassidy out of Tuesday’s game, and some, if not all, are likely to be back in contention as they look for Quakers’ first win over Chorley in five seasons.
“I’ve got a nice problem for a change,” added Armstrong. “Tuesday’s win has put some belief into the squad that it doesn’t matter who goes on to that pitch, they’re capable of producing a performance.
“I’ve never done a big change like that to keep the energy levels high. Hopefully we can make changes again on Saturday and get another three points and go on a good run.
“After the top two or three in this league, the rest is a much of a muchness – if we’d shown any consistency this season, we’d have been much higher.
“There’s no reason why we can’t build on these last three matches.
“The lads have got to be up for the game, and have the same workrate and the same desire that they showed on Tuesday.”
George Smith is still struggling with a hamstring injury, while Armstrong said that several other players have niggles but should be fit for the game against the fifth-placed club.
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