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Steve Watson's hopes after son of former Newcastle United star signs for Darlington

Quakers claimed a first league victory of the season as they enjoyed a well-deserved 3-0 win at Alfreton at the weekend, and now want to follow that up against the full-time Coasters, who were relegated from the National League last season.

“Fylde are a good club," said Darlington boss Steve Watson. "I’ve faced them a few times in the National League and National League North.

“Any team that comes down from the National League will have good footballers – we’ll work out the best way to beat them.”

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Watson is hoping for more goals from his full-backs after right-back Ben Hedley scored his first league goal in 167 matches in the win at Alfreton.

“I’m always on to him [Hedley]," he said. "He’s technically very, very good, and is good with both feet as he proved with his left foot at Alfreton.

“I think if he backs himself more then maybe he’ll score more goals, but maybe not as spectacular as that one on Saturday. It was a tremendous strike with a good build-up.”

Quakers included two new signings, Tye Barton and Dan Hopper, in the squad on Saturday, and they will be involved again tonight.

Barton is the son of former Newcastle United defender Warren Barton, and has been playing in the United States for Inter Miami in MLS 2.

“Tye has been with a couple of clubs, and his dad’s an old team-mate of mine so we had a good conversation," said Watson. "He’s somebody who can play in a number of positions, he’s competitive and is good on the ball.”

Hopper arrived from Carlisle on a month’s loan late on Friday, and Watson added: “He’s an out-and-out winner who can mix things up a little bit, so he will give us options.”

Midfielder Tom Platt is steadily recovering from injury and will probably be on the bench tonight, but Matty Cornish and Kallum Griffiths aren’t quite ready and are more likely to figure in the Bank Holiday weekend games against King’s Lynn and Telford.

Midfielder Will Hatfield, who is the leading scorer so far this season with three goals, will be facing his previous club.

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