Swindon climbed to the top of League Two courtesy of two goals inside the opening twenty minutes at the 96.6 TFM Darlington Arena. Despite the result Quakers were much the better side for long spells during the game but were undone at the back. Darlington manager David Hodgson had to reshuffle his side thanks to an ankle injury to Clark Keltie. David Duke moved into the side to face his old employees and was made captain. Meanwhile former Swindon loan player Patrick Collins also lined up against one of his old teams.

Quakers have not been starting games as quickly as possible during the opening of this season but thanks to a reworked warm-up routine Darlington started the brighter of the two teams and were unlucky not to take the lead inside the first two minutes. Kalusivikako Ngoma slid a wonderful pass through to Micky Cummins but Swindon shot stopper Peter Brezovan did well to get down low and deflect the ball behind for the game's first corner kick.

Darlington's positive start continued and a minute after Cummins' effort was put behind Brezovan was busy again. A wonderful piece of interplay saw Ngoma find Gaetano Giallanza who played it back to the Frenchman before Giallanza picked up possession again from the midfielder. Swindon's defence however managed to get just enough to break up the neat passing inside the eighteen-yard box but the ball fell nicely for the Swiss forward who saw his well struck shot go straight into the hands of the waiting Swindon keeper.

Swindon's first effort came after around five minutes when a free kick just inside Swindon's half was crossed in and headed away by Collins before being fired well wide of Sam Russell's right hand post. Shortly afterwards the visitors took the lead when Barry Conlon gave away possession on the halfway line. As Swindon broke away Christian Roberts was bought down by Collins twenty-five yards out with Ngoma close behind him. Following a lengthy stoppage Paul Evans stepped up and curled the ball past an unconvincing wall with Russell motionless.

Darlington were not deterred and after twelve minutes Quakers could have pulled themselves level. Craig James supplied a magnificent cross from the left which Conlon headed down only for Brezovan to drop low to his left and make the save. Conlon had Darlington's next chance as he got on the end of a good lay off from Duke on the edge of the Swindon area on seventeen minutes only to drag his low shot wide of the post. Despite the home side enjoying the better of the attacking play Swindon doubled their advantage midway through the first half.

Swindon's Andy Monkhouse managed to jinx past Darren Holloway down the left before curling an inviting cross over to the far post. Lee Peacock appeared to climb somewhat unfairly over Collins but Roberts was on hand to sweep home the ball from just outside the six yard box to put the visitors further in front on twenty-one minutes. Swindon buoyed by their latest rewards forced a corner on twenty-seven minutes which saw Roberts peel away from the pack and drift to the edge of the area. Evans picked out the former Cardiff City player who saw his shot hit the pack of players in the Darlington box.

With ten minutes left in the first half Swindon were awarded another free kick in a similar position from where they took the lead. This time though the Darlington wall did its job and the ball was deflected behind for a corner kick. Monkhouse's delivery found Peacock who did well to avoid the attentions of a marker but his downward header which appeared to be going in was pushed around the post by Russell. Swindon kept the pressure on and forced another two flag kicks. Darlington's enterprising start had made way for a frustrating first half with the home side often on top. Hodgson's men however threw themselves a life line at the end of the first period by pulling a goal back. Swindon cleared a Darlington corner but Martin Smith collected and sent the ball back over to the far from the left flank where Giallanza stole in unnoticed and celebrated becoming a father for the first time with an excellently taken goal.

Darlington continued to look inventive during the second half and three minutes in Conlon headed straight at Brezovan after a good cross from the right by Smith. A few minutes later Conlon should have done better when he scooped a shot over the bar. James' deep cross from the left floated just over the head of the Irishman but Giallanza collected unmarked and played the ball back to Conlon in the area but he could only lift his effort off target. Conlon was again involved on fifty-six minutes when Quakers had claims for a penalty waved away. Smith was again the provider but Conlon went down under Ifil's challenge as the Darlington number thirteen challenged for the aerial ball.

The hosts continued to enjoy the better of the second half although at times could have been caught out at the back. On sixty-six minutes Ricky Shakes played the ball back to Jack Smith down the Swindon right. His cross found Peacock who glanced a header goalwards but Russell pushed it onto the bar and the ball ended up away from danger. Shortly after Darlington made their first change with Smith making way for record signing Julian Joachim. His entrance to the fray nearly provided an instant result. Moments after coming on Giallanza turned to feed the former Boston United player in the area but his low shot was stopped by the legs of Brezovan before his defenders scrambled the ball clear.

With fifteen minutes left Joachim turned provider as he slipped the ball through the Swindon rearguard for Brezovan to be beaten by Giallanza's well placed shot. Unluckily for the Swiss striker and Darlington the ball hit the woodwork. This was the prompt for Swindon to try and shut up shop with Ashan Holgate coming on for Roberts and Dennis Wises' side moving to a 4-5-1 system. Prior to this Darlington introduced Brian Close for Holloway and the newly introduced pair met for the first time when the Darlington player was bought down out wide on the edge of the Swindon area by the dreadlocked Holgate.

Quakers continued to probe for an equaliser but none was forthcoming. Darlington were not helped by the referee who failed to spot Andrew Nicholas handle the ball in his box. Had Darlington been given the spot kick it would have been their chance to grab a deserved share of the spoils. Quakers, much like the game against Boston a week earlier, showed plenty going forward but were undone in the opening twenty-minutes and should have dealt with both goals better. Whilst it is another disappointing result for Hodgson's men there was once again plenty to be encouraged about particularly Ngoma who, despite the occasional sloppy moment, showed some real creativity and a range of intelligent passing. There wasn't much wrong from a Darlington point of view but they do need to tighten up quickly.

Darlington: Russell, Holloway (Close 72), Collins, Hutchinson, James, Cummins, Ngoma, Duke, Giallanza (Wainwright 81), Conlon, Smith (Joachim 67). Subs: Johnson, Stockdale, Wainwright, Close, Joachim.

Swindon: Brezovan, Jack Smith, Ifil, Williams, Vincent, Shakes, Evans, Weston, Monkhouse (Nicholas 52), Peacock (Brownlie 87), Roberts (Holgate 76). Subs: Onibuje, Jutkiewicz, Nicholas, Brownlie, Holgate.

Darlington bookings: Ngoma, James, Close.

Swindon bookings: Ifil.

Goals: Evans 6th min (0-1), Roberts 21st min (0-2), Giallanza 45th min (1-2).

Report by Garry Mann.