Darlington admit they are gutted that Joe Colbeck has gone back to Valley Parade.

The City winger was recalled last week by Stuart McCall because Alex Rhodes was still out with his hamstring injury.

And he was thrown in at Chesterfield on Saturday for his first start for the club since September, smashing the underside of the bar with a 25-yard blast in the second half.

Darlington boss Dave Penney had hoped to keep Colbeck over Christmas and was disappointed that his stay had been cut short.

Penney said: "Joe was fantastic for us. He scored a couple of goals and had a real effect on us so we're sorry to see him go.

"We would like to have had him with us until January but they needed him back. We knew that, with a 24-hour recall, that was always a possibility."

Colbeck, who scored twice in six games while on loan with the Quakers, had been due to spend another three weeks in the north-east.

His last involvement with Darlington was as a substitute in their 4-0 win at Grimsby, when his cross laid on the final goal.

McCall, who was at Blundell Park to check on him, recalled the 21-year-old the following day.

City fans can now get their hands on tickets for the New Year's Day clash at Accrington.

The club have been given an 1,700 standing allocation - there are no seats in the away end - which will be available for season-ticket holders only until after the Lincoln game on Boxing Day.

Accrington have said that any supporters who travel without a ticket will be turned away.

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