Darlington continued their impressive start to the season with an easy victory against a Stockport County side that had plenty of possession but which failed to trouble Quakers keeper Andy Oakes until the game was almost over.
Darlington ended last term with a 5-0 home defeat to County, and they began this game in a determined fashion.
With only five minutes gone, on-loan striker Matt Green found himself in space inside the Stockport box but hesitated and allowed keeper Conrad Logan to clear the danger.
The visitors had a good opportunity to open the scoring in the ninth minute when Paul Tierney floated a 25-yard free-kick over the wall, only for the ball to land on the top of the net.
Three minutes later Johann Smith, signed on-loan from Bolton on Friday, cut inside and brought a great save out of Logan.
Midway through the half Darlington took the lead when Logan shouted for the defence to leave the ball and Tommy Wright nipped in ahead of the keeper and walked the ball into the unguarded net.
The visitors had looked dangerous going forward and two chances fell to Anthony Pilkington in the 24th and 26th minutes as Stockport looked to equalise.
But a touch of quality from Darlington increased their advantage in the 28th minute when Julian Joachim met a left-wing cross perfectly to steer the ball beyond Logan from ten yards.
Four minutes before the break Logan was again involved in the action when he tipped a shot from Smith around the post. The game was still well-balanced despite Darlington's advantage.
In the 52nd minute Smith again cut inside and fired straight at Logan and then Tierney again tested Oakes with a 53rd minute left-footed free-kick.
Darlington substitute Gregg Blundell scored with his first touch of the ball in the 81st minute when he beat Jason Taylor for pace and fired in from just inside the area.
Man-of-the-match Wright grabbed his second goal of the game five minutes from time when he headed Smith's cross home at the far post.