Darlington can put their away form worries aside for the time being when they begin a spell of three successive matches at Heritage Park this evening and hope to return to the top of the table.

Three points against Lancaster City would see Quakers leapfrog leaders Salford City on goal difference and leave their position looking a little healthier following recent poor results.

They will have one more match in hand after tonight, but certain amount of pressure has grown on Martin Gray’s side, mainly due to a failure to make the most of their rearranged games and wasting the opportunity to take control of first place.

They have lost four of their last eight fixtures, including three in a row away from home, so it is with some relief that they return to Heritage Park when Darlington are unbeaten in 11 league matches, winning nine.

On Saturday, however, Quakers lost 2-1 at mid-table Clitheroe, despite taking an early lead when David Dowson netted.

Dowson has been reduced to bench duty for much of the season, and when he has started, making the first XI on 13 occasions, he has usually been substituted, including on Saturday when he replaced by Nathan Cartman midway through the second half.

Gray was pleased with his performance and still holds in high regard a player that was among his first signings when he became manager in 2012.

He said: “Dowson was great on Saturday. He gave us good energy, he got a goal and maybe he could’ve had a second when he cut inside from the right and shot wide. Strikers are confidence players, so he needed a goal.

“He never questions me when he’s not in the team and he’s a good lad to have in the squad. Every time he comes off the bench or starts you know what you’re going to get, a lot of commitment and energy.”

After starting the previous eight games, scoring twice, Cartman dropped to the bench with Gray preferring Graeme Armstrong.

Gray explained: “We didn’t have enough height in the team with Gary Brown being out.

“Clitheroe had six lads 6ft plus, we needed Armstrong back in the team away from home when we knew we were going to be under pressure at set-pieces.

“We had Liam Hatch and Terry Galbraith in the team, all the rest aren’t tall lads, so I couldn’t take that risk away from home of not playing Armstrong and I thought he was fantastic.”

Lancaster are 12th but are not to be underestimated. They won 2-0 at Salford on Saturday, while Darlington failed to score against them last season, Quakers losing the Heritage Park fixture 2-0.

Gray added: “They’re a tough team and they’ll put a lot of effort in, but it’s a game we’re looking forward to.”

Lancaster are managed by former Newcastle United defender Darren Peacock, while ex-England international Trevor Sinclair is his assistant.