Tim Canterbury once said, 'life's just a series of peaks and troughs.' It's safe to say Darlington have experienced a little of both so far this season however victory at home to Torquay on the first of four initially scheduled Friday night fixtures was tantamount in renewing the momentum set against Macclesfield and Accrington.

Since those two resounding wins, Quaker have faltered thrice, including twice against fellow promotion hopefuls Swindon and Walsall, either side of a unlikely Carling Cup win. But Hodgy's men were quick out of the blocks, forcing three corners in the first six minutes, Micky Cummins coming closest with a header that dipped over the upright.

However, it was the visitors who should have broken the deadlock in their first attack after skipper Steve Woods beat the offside, rounder Sam Russell but was denied by a heroic lunging drag back by the man of the moment Paddy Collins. A huge let off for the home side whose lack of concentration in the opening stages was exposed yet again.

Fortunately concentration levels were peaking at the other end, particular in the form of Julian Joachim who headed fractionally over from Duke's cross, half volleyed wide and fired a ball across the box causing a mini scramble in the space of five minutes around the twenty minute mark. The lack of a breakthrough was put to pay however, as Lee Thorpe slotted home one of the most innocuous penalty decisions you're ever likely to see with a simple case of two men jumping for the ball prompted referee Mr. Shoebridge to put his foot in it as far as Darlo were concerned and awarding the spot kick against Ngoma.

Torquay seemed to have set out their stall to settle for a draw but the lack of drive from the hosts perhaps warranted going a goal down. The team the masses witnessed at Accrington has seemingly gone on vacation with far too much sloppiness and basic errors creeping into a side supposedly beside themselves on achieving promotion. Half time couldn't come soon enough as four minutes stoppage time was signalled but as at Stoke the lengthy additional minutes paid dividends.

Brian Close did well to keep in Hutchinson's loose spray out wide to cross for Conlon to nod back to fast developing folk hero Kalusivikako Ngoma to blast his first goal in England past the helpless Nathan Abbey. Neither side really deserved to be ahead - Darlington, despite being the better, not living up to their expectations and Torquay threatening seldom to say the least.

After the re start as Lee Thorpe's short back pass put Abbey and Giallanza at 50/50 to make it but the keeper prevailed, clearing as far as Conlon whose attempted lob with the goalie off his line proving equally as dismal, for the out of sorts front man, as Thorpe's back pass. It was Giallanza who was the heart of the best move of the match which should have given the home side the lead. He picked up the ball with his back to goal, laid in Joachim who, after a lovely one-two, played in debutant David Rowson but the Scotman's shot was well saved by Abbey's legs.

It was to be Rowson's last contribution to the match, being replaced by Logan, as was Joachim by Wainwright, with little over twenty-five to go. A brave move by Hodgson, considering Joachim was largely the architect of any meaningful attacks forged by Darlington and, to sacrifice him with the score line still tied. As half chances came to and thro the game seemed destined to fizzle out into a one all draw. Giallanza had a header ruled out for off side but that looked as being the closest Hodgson's men would come to the clutches of a much needed victory. Headers blazed over and shots were blocked whilst Russell had to make a great stop to keep out Martin Philips in a rare attack for the visitors.

In the dying seconds Ngoma two yards out forced a fantastic point blank save from Abbey. Not a catastrophe, dare I say it a step in the right direction but this was far from inspiring stuff and certainly a game to look back upon a surmise two points dropped. With forty games left the first six have taught, if nothing else, that if promotion is to be achieved it's going to be a long hard struggle and blips of this nature need rectifying promptly and games against the likes of Torquay at home on a Friday night need to be guaranteed wins.

Darlington: Russell, Close, Hutchinson, Collins (Holloway 86), Duke, Cummins, Ngoma, Rowson (Carlos Logan 67), Giallanza, Conlon, Joachim (Wainwright 67). Subs: Johnson, Stockdale, Carlos Logan, Holloway, Wainwright.

Torquay United: Abbey, Andrews, Thorpe, Woods, Angus, Phillips, Garner, Murray, Mansell (Hockley 45), Hill (Reed 28), Evans. Subs: Villis, McPhee, Motteram, Hockley, Reed.

Darlington bookings: Cummins.

Torquay United bookings: Evans.

Goals: Thorpe 33rd min (0-1)(pen), Ngoma 45th min (1-1).

Report by Garry Mann.