Page fifty-two of the match programme doesn't lie - there are only thirteen games of the 06/07 season left. This provides a harsh reminder that despite the recent return to form, culminating in the excellent comeback versus Swindon on Saturday to earn a valuable point, wins are required - and no better opportunity than in the next two must win fixtures.

The first a slippery home tie with Accrington Stanley making there first appearance at the Arena themselves desperate to pick up the spoils to alleviate their lingering relegation fears. Seldom has Dave Penney stuck with the same team in his indifferent tenure in the Darlo hot seat and tonight is no different with four changes to the starting line up that took on Paul Sturrock's Swindon.

Tommy Wright and Julian Joachim returned to partner Blundell in a three pronged attack, whilst goal hero Martin Smith and Rowson were welcomed back into the fore to flank the midfield trio - rather harsh on Ricky Ravenhill, demoted to the bench, who has so far anchored the midfield superbly in his handful of appearances since joining from Grimsby. The early exchanges that Accrington were indeed not here to make up the numbers, Romauld Boco winning an early free kick after Close's mistimed slide tackle and Boco again threatened after nine minutes forcing a good block form Jones with his legs.

However, sandwiched in between Boco's flirtations the hosts had a glorious opportunity to take an early lead. The most glorious of glorious chances in fact as Tommy Wright found himself in acres in the 18 yard box forcing a low block from Stanley on loan stopper Przemyslaw Kazimieroz into the path of Joachin with the goal at his mercy but the usually most preditorial of League Two strikers hacked his close range shot painfully wide. Nonetheless, the ease at which the visiting defence was penetrated suggested that this was to be the first of such golden opportunities to fall our way on this mild Tuesday night.

And indeed it took less than ten minutes before another similarly simple chance came our way. Joachim and Cummins were this time guilty of squandering gilt edged chances, although JJ was only just prevented from converting the Blundell instigated breakaway by the outstretched legs of the keeper. Not to worry, after Stanley only half managed to clear their lines Horwood burst down the left elegantly pulling the cross back behind the defender and into the path of Tommy Wright to dispatch with bewildering ease in front of the Accrington travelling contingent.

Stanley have parted with the gifted pair of Gary Roberts and, more recently, Ian Crainey to Swansea and the gaps in their frail squad are clear for all to see. And almost inevitably with less than a third of the game gone, Blundell increased the advantage with an excellent looping header into the far right corner from Smith's cross. With thirty-two minutes on the clock Ian Miller came agonisingly close to replicating his home goal scoring exploits for his temporary club bouncing a header back off the top of the bar from a corner with the ball eventually falling into the flustered mitts of Kazimieroz (who for future reference we'll abbreviate as Kazi).

Even David Wheater got involved in the attacking with a Paulo Wanchope Derby debut style burst through the middle, his progress with the ball owing more to his giant frame than on the ball elegance, before he was tripped 30 yards out by Grant. But don't be fooled by young David's attacking credentials, this merely followed on from a little spate of stabs at goal on Saturday.

But hold the back page, no sooner had Darlo taken their foot of the gas, messed up a couple of half chances just after the restart had Stanley pulled one back through a tidy little move. Todd burst down the right, cut into the penalty area evaded the slide by Wheater and dinked into the path of Paul Mullin - one of the non leagues most prolific marksmen of the last half a decade - who slammed past the helpless Jones.

An unscripted shock to the system after dominating the lay for the best part of the first half hour but Stanley proved in the first quarter of an hour - when they had six shots at the target - that despite their rickety defence the attack can fend for itself. Although they are not as good as the ambition indicated in Boco's failed scissor kick - which as expected sailed miles from the target.

Suddenly cruise control was off and there was a game to be played. Quakers, if they we're not careful, could look vulnerable to letting one of the easiest wins of the season slip through the net. So hearts were in the mouth when Stanley burst clear on the counter after a free kick was cleared - Close and Jones in sixes and sevens trying to decide which off the four attackers to focus upon before relief swept through the home ranks as Harris' effort curled marginally wide.

The game needed killing off and quick. Alun Armstrong was in the thick of the action more or less as soon as he comes on. First forces Kazi into the first of two spellbinding stops in five minutes with a header destined for the top corner, and then Big Al was guilty of turning down the chance to turn and shoot when gifted the ball with his back to goal in the six yard box opting instead for a sensationalised tumble to the deck after a debatable clip by his marker.

With ten left there looked like only one outcome as Accrington continue to bombard the gradually deconstructing Darlo defence, in fact had it not been for some terrible finishing the 119 travelling fans could well be looking for a win. At the moment the only way three points look guaranteed is provided Stanley's finishing remains as ineffective. A quite staggering contrast to the situation at half time and indeed the five minutes the home side were left to re warm up could have in hindsight been spent geeing them up to protect the lead with their lives and instilling the momentum to kill the game off as should have been done so well before nine o'clock.

There were a few questions after this one, like how did Stanley not get something from the game and how did such a comfortable lead develop into a nailbiting last ten minutes? In the end though an invaluable three points nevertheless but consistency is crucial if we are to consolidate a last ditch play off push. Too often we are slow out of the blocks, too often we lose concentration, too often we loosen our grip on games, too often we are two different teams in each half and thank god lady luck was at the TFM this evening.

Darlington: Jones, Close (Keltie 83), Wheater, Miller, Horwood, Joachim, Rowson, Cummins, Smith (Wainwright 57), Tommy Wright (Armstrong 62), Blundell. Subs: Stockdale, Ravenhill, Wainwright, Keltie, Armstrong.

Accrington Stanley: Kazimierczak, Edwards, Almeida, Williams, Rogers, Todd, Grant, Harris (Proctor 74), Whalley, Mullin, Boco (Mangan 74). Subs: Fearon, Welch, Fleetwood, Proctor, Mangan.

Darlington bookings: None.

Accrington bookings: Williams, Almeida.

Goals: Tommy Wright 21st min (1-0), Blundell 29th min (2-0), Mullin 50th min (2-1).

Report by Garry Mann.