The first day of September brought with it the first win of the season in 2009, when Lee Thorpe scored the only goal of the game against Lincoln City.

In the Lincoln team that night was left-back Aaron Brown, who would join Darlington the following season, and the match is notable for Sam Clucas’ inclusion.

It was the only time the Lincoln youth product played for the Imps, he later joined Hereford before his career took off and has since played in the top five divisions for Mansfield, Chesterfield, Hull, Swansea and now Stoke having signed for them last summer in a deal that could be worth up to £16.5m.

While it’s a footnote in Clucas’ career, it is not a victory that many will remember – only 828 were in attendance at The Northern Echo Arena for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie.

Victory saw Quakers secure a place in the next round away to Leeds United on October 6, by which point Darlington had still not won a league match during what was to become a dreadful season, ending in relegation from League Two.

Darlington: Knight, Arnison, Plummer, Miller, Bower, Convery (Bains, 87), Chandler, Smith, Porritt (Smith 75), Thorpe, Gall (Dowson 75)