Kevin McBride and a scorcher from reverted winger Julian Joachim ensured ten man Darlington took all three points on the opening day of the season putting the gloss on a flawless second half display despite having keeper Andy Oakes sent off for a professional foul with thirty minutes left on the clock.

Joachim's strike sealed the spoils for Dave Penney's fired up troops casting a shadow over any worries about the club's pre-season form and has set an excellent early season tempo for a good campaign to be built upon.

However, it took thirty-eight minutes for Darlington to register a shot on goal. After a typically sluggish opening to the campaign it appeared as though one of McBride's set pieces would be the most likely source of a goal.

His dangerous corner was only half cleared allowing the impressive Joachim and Tim Ryan to each have a blast at target. A series of good blocks threatened to quell the attacking impetus the hosts had just gathered in the closing stages of the half compounded after Pawel Abbott's stab at goal a yard out from Stephen Foster's header back across the box fell straight into the arms of Anthony Williams.

But the hosts didn't have to wait too long to break the deadlock and on forty-one minutes McBride and Abbott reversed roles as supplier and finisher. McBride swooped onto Abbott's dinked cross onto the edge of the six yard box to place his header past the Wrexham goalkeeper. It was just rewards for McBride who's running out wide to get himself into the game was a significant reason the Quakers began to get on top.

Until the last ten minutes of the opening period Darlington bared an uncanny likeness to their end of season form in the last campaign. Much of the passing and control was lazy and possession was lost far too easily on occasions, Ian Miller the notable culprit on his return to the club besides captain Foster.

The pre-season ended with many bemoaning Penney's lack of suppliers particularly on the wings, however Chris Palmer and particularly Joachim looked the most dangerous and threatened when they had the ball in a bit of space. Joachim's impact was not lost on Ryan Valentine who crunched last season's top scorer with a late challenge on the side line.

Joachim's probing down the wing continued to pose the main problems for the Wrexham defence in the early stages but, much like with Tommy Wright's numerous flick on's, the support from the strikers was somewhat inadequate.

Wrexham enjoyed the better start to the game and looked capable of capitalising as the Darlo rearguard gradually brushed off the cobwebs. Neil Austin almost gifted them a golden opportunity after letting Chris Llewellyn catch the ball on the by line and whip in a cross, but Neil Roberts was too let into the box with Oakes pegged to his goal line.

Wrexham looked the better again in the opening stages of the restart but the improving backline and especially Ryan were equal to anything Brian Carey's aggressive side had to throw at them. Ryan lived up to his reputation as a bit of a crazy horse seemingly thriving with every opportunity to stick his head between man and ball.

Oakes had a hand in mouth moment after fifty minuets as he could only watch Michael Proctor's deflected shot dip from high up to land on the top of the net. Palmer continued to look potent with the ball but like he did occasionally in the first period, his decision making was a little suspect at times. After beating his man on the left he resisted playing the ball into the unmarked Abbott who eventually received the ball offside when he delightfully tucked the ball from distance into the top corner.

But a match changing moment sprung on the hour when Oakes recklessly took down Proctor on the outer rim of the penalty area leaving debutant referee Mr. Evans to do nothing but send the keeper off and award the free kick. David Stockdale took to the field replacing Palmer and Purdie swapped with Abbott to shore up the midfield, joining a three man middle with Joachim going up front.

With the stadium finally alive the game went up a notch with the hosts especially laying some lovely interchanging football. Set piece pro McBride was on hand to demonstrate the diversity in his range, dinking delicately for Wright to head back into Foster's path but the skipper was stretching too much to put any real direction on his shot.

The ten men were showing real fight and determination to sink the Welshmen and the man disadvantage was barely noticeable unless you counted up the players. The testosterone was rewarded on seventy minutes as Joachim sprinted onto a through pass, beating the three defenders in his wake before unleashing a ferocious strike from twenty yards which sizzled past Williams into the top corner. Joachim is not everyone's cup of tea but his work rate today suggested everything but a man who wasn't happy at the club and his first crucial strike of the campaign was nothing less than he deserved after today's graft.

Penney's final sub gave Gregg Blundell quarter-of-an-hour to impress, Wright deserving of his rest after banging his head for the nth time of the match, a soldier wounded in battle.

Wrexham had chances to claw their way back, Llewellyn's ball across the box was out of Stockdale's reach but he had no teammates to finish the job off and he then himself missed a good chance firing across the goal and narrowly missing the post. Stockdale continued his solid pre-season form with an excellent save low to his right from Shaun Pejic's powerful header and it seemed as though Wrexham wouldn't net in a month-of-Sundays.

After an expectantly indifferent start Dave Penney's men exuded all the qualities everyone on the football league circuit has come to expect from the former Donny boss' teams. A ruthlessly professional second half ensured all Quakarians present went home more than satisfied. Not one player came away with a blot against his name, everyone gave their all and everyone knew it. The infectious joy of victory tastes oh so sweet once again, but let's not get carried away!

Darlington: Oakes, Austin, Foster, Miller, Ryan, Joachim, Ravenhill, McBride, Palmer (Stockdale 66), Wright (Blundell 78), Abbott (Purdie 67). Subs: White, Harty, Purdie, Blundell, Stockdale.

Wrexham: Anthony Williams, Spender, Pejic, Hope, Valentine, Eifion Williams (Done 71), Mark Jones (Mackin 75), Danny Williams, Llewellyn, Roberts (Marc Williams 85), Proctor. Subs: Michael Jones, Mike Williams, Mackin, Marc Williams, Done.

Darlington bookings: Wright, McBride, Oakes (red)(63rd min).

Wrexham bookings: Valentine, Danny Williams, Pejic.

Goals: McBride 42nd min (1-0), Joachim 72nd min (2-0).

Report by Garry Mann.