Having been unlucky to bow out of the Carling Cup in midweek Darlington returned to winning ways with a solid showing at Accrington Stanley. Tommy Wright opened the scoring and Pawel Abbott netted two second half goals to seal the three points in a largely comfortable performance. Only in the second period did the hosts seriously threaten and even then Darlington's backline coped well.

Having dispatched Accrington Stanley in their opening away game last season Quakers arrived at the Fraser Eagle Stadium at virtually the same point as the previous campaign. Darlington opened their season with a 2-0 win over Wrexham and continued their good early season form to add weight to their equally early promotion hopes. The home side raised eyebrows with an impressive result at Wycombe on day one of the season but were second best for large spells in this encounter.

Darlington manager Dave Penney was left with a few hard decisions to make in the build up to this game. His main concern was in between the sticks. Keeper Andy Oakes returned from suspension following his red card against Wrexham. In his place youngster David Stockdale had performed well and it posed a selection headache for the Quakers' boss. In the end only one change was made. Tim Ryan returned in place of John Brackstone whilst Alan White held off the challenge of Ian Miller and kept his place in the team.

The home side started positively and forced an early free-kick which the Darlington wall blocked. Having been caught in possession during the midweek Carling Cup tie White was nearly punished again however the brief mistake in an otherwise solid game led to nothing. Coming forward the visitors caused their own problems forcing two early corners and a free-kick from Kevin McBride was headed wide from twelve yards out by White. As the opening stages wore on Darlington started to impose themselves.

Chris Palmer's trickery caused concern for the home side fifteen minutes in. He twisted and turned inside from the left flank and drove the ball powerfully over the angle of bar and post. Moments later Stockdale was called into action to collect a free-kick at the other end. Accrington stroked the ball around well at times but Darlington's defence marshalled the threat well and on twenty-five minutes the visitors took the lead. Julian Joachim found Rob Purdie down the right and his cross was excellently steered into the bottom corner with a stooping header from Tommy Wright.

The striker nearly created another goal five minutes later when he latched onto the end of White's long ball forward. Wright found a small amount of space and crossed low into the middle. Ricky Ravenhill steamed in but the Accrington defence managed to avert the danger at the last moment. It was to be Ravenhill's last action in the game as he was replaced by Michael Cummins after thirty-three minutes. In between times Accrington headed over from a free-kick and Romauld Boco smashed a low shot well wide.

Darlington should have doubled their advantage shortly after the change. Joachim's lofted ball forward to Abbott found the forward on the edge of the area but his low shot was well saved by Kenny Arthur. Moments later the Stanley keeper slid out his area to deal with a stray pass. The ball fell invitingly to Wright twenty-five yards out but his chip went over the bar. As the first half approached its conclusion Stanley had a couple of chances but Quakers also forced another corner and Abbott nearly got goal side as they remained the better of the two sides. The home side had seen plenty of possession during the opening forty-five minutes but Darlington looked largely in control and had enjoyed the clearer cut chances. It was a theme that was continued in the second period.

Stanley were slow to begin the second half and were duly punished. Moments into the second half Abbott twisted and turned to knock the ball past his man. The Darlington forward however was knocked to the floor before he could continue his progress and was rightly awarded a free-kick. Palmer stepped up but the ball was deflected away by the wall. Accrington replied by winning a corner which Quakers cleared easily and the visitors broke down field. The ball made its way to Palmer who crossed for Abbott to double the lead on fifty minutes.

John Miles summed up Accrington's sluggish start when his free-kick floated over everyone where it was weakly headed wide at the back post by Andrew Proctor. Just before the hour mark Proctor had a better chance when he saw a long range effort fly just over the bar. The home side started to look more dangerous but Quakers were well organised, particularly when dealing with Stanley's set pieces, and limited their hosts to long range efforts.

Proctor, who was one of Accrington's most lively players, saw a header well gathered by Stockdale as Darlington continued to hold their opponents at bay. With fifteen minutes left Lee McEvilly neatly played the ball through to Paul Mullin but he couldn't control and a decent opening passed the home side by. Greg Blundell was introduced for the hard working Wright with a little over ten minutes left but despite the hosts enjoying more of the ball ideas on how to break down a resolute defence seemed to be getting less and less.

On eighty-three minutes a Miller free-kick just inside the Stanley half bounced off the top of the crossbar. Midfielder James Harris then smashed a shot wide for Accrington. Darlington though never looked likely to concede and in injury time they added a third from the penalty spot when Robbie Williams pushed Blundell over in the area. Abbott stepped up and confidently dispatched to seal the result, his second goal of the game and his second in a Darlington shirt.

Accrington Stanley: Arthur, Cavanagh, Williams, Roberts, Branch (McGivern 77), Harris, Proctor, Miles (Whalley 63), Boco, Mullin, McEvilly. Subs: Dunbavin, Brown, Richardson, Whalley, McGivern.

Darlington: Stockdale, Palmer, White, Foster, Ryan, Wright (Blundell 79), Ravenhill (Cummins 33), McBride (Miller 71), Purdie, Abbott, Joachim. Subs: Oakes, Harty, Blundell, Cummins, Miller.

Accrington bookings: Branch.

Darlington bookings: Ryan, Wright.

Goals: Wright 26th min (1-0), Abbott 49th min (2-0), Abbott 90th min (pen)(3-0).

Report by Kevin Luff.