Darlington manager Martin Gray says that new signing Lee Gaskell showed “fantastic technique” to score a superb hat trick in Quakers’ 5-1 away win at Mickleover on Saturday.

Gaskell, making his away debut for Quakers, scored a hat trick in 12 second half minutes, the pick of the bunch being an acrobatic volley from an Adam Mitchell cross, his second and the team’s fourth.

[caption id="attachment_13935" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lee Gaskell acrobatically volleys the fourth[/caption]

“Lee’s technique was fantastic,” said Gray. “His showed great balance and timing to hit the ball exactly as he wanted for his second goal. In those situations, you so often see a player completely miskick especially at this level. It was a great ball in from Adam Mitchell as well.

“Lee took his other two goals really well, and he was involved in the build up for another one.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him, it’s a great start for him. Three goals in two games isn’t bad at all.”

The last time we scored five in an away game was at New Mills in March last season, and the last player to score a hat trick away from home was Terry Galbraith at Harrogate RA in February last season.

MG was delighted with the victory that put Quakers into second place in the table.

“It was a very good team performance,” he said. “I thought we dominated the game. We pressurised Mickleover quite a lot, won plenty of ball, our retention was very good, and we took our goals well. It’s where we want to be.”