DARLINGTON got their season off to the perfect start by beating bookies’ favourites Salford City.

David Ferguson’s two goals were the difference between the teams, both fancied to be among the promotion-chasers this season, particularly Salford.

They went full-time in the summer, signing 13 players since overcoming Quakers 5-1 on the final day of last season 14 weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Darlington have made only relatively minor adjustments in that time, but it was Martin Gray’s side which looked like a more cohesive, organised team.

They defended well for the most part, and took their chances when they came.

After the 5-1 loss in April, this result certainly felt good for the travelling Darlington fans.

Salford had made a bright start, pinning Darlington back in an ominous first five minutes, but the visitors kept their cool and soon began to contain the opposition, winning the first corner of the game on six minutes.

There was a moment of alarm when Josh Gillies was barged over by Carl Pierianni after Phil Turnbull intercepted a clearance, but instead of a Quakers free-kick Salford were permitted to play on, Gary Brown extending a leg to cut out Michael Nottingham’s ball into the middle.

Brown then almost set up Darlington’s first goal of the season. Still up field after taking a long throw deep in the opposition half, he chested down David Ferguson’s forward pass, but with James Caton’s first sight of goal a half-volley went over the bar.

Caton was one of two Darlington debutants in the starting XI, defender Dom Collins the other, Quakers lining up in a 4-4-2 with David Ferguson on the left of midfield.

Collins did not get enough purchase on Terry Galbraith’s floated free-kick into the area, as Darlington began to impose themselves a little, Salford having made a bright start in what was their first match as a full-time outfit.

Eight of their XI did not start the meeting between these teams on the final day of last season 14 weeks ago.

There was great chance wasted by Quakers on 24 minutes. Brown’s long throw flicked on at the near post to the far, where Dave Syers was unable to turn the ball home.

While at the other end Salford defender Carl Piergianni, one of their three-man backline, headed powerfully but inaccurately, the ball going high over the bar of Adam Bartlett, who had seen little of the action by the half-hour mark.

The game had been cagey for the first half hour, neither team showing their cards, but it opened in the final ten minutes.

There was some lovely work by Caton on the byline, quick footwork seeing him side-stepping Scott Burton before delivering an inviting cross for Mark Beck, but Michael Nottingham got there first.

Play quickly switched to the other, a heavy touch by Mike Phenix costing him a golden opportunity after he had found space to meet a right-wing cross, a chance he would have regretted when Darlington went 1-0 just before the break.

It came after Caton latched on to a ball down Darlington’s right, lashing it against the woodwork, and Ferguson was quickest to react by rifling the ball home.

Darlington had to ride the storm at the beginning of the second half, Salford much better, getting men forward and creating chances they really should have taken.

The first came when striker Mani Dierseruvwe lashed a volley into the Darlington fans behind the goal after a corner Quakers could not clear.

And then huge chance was wasted by Phenix again.

The ball was launched forward by Danny Livesey into the corner of the pitch where, Nottingham held off Galbraith and delivered a goal on a plate for Phenix, but he froze and the chance was gone, a grateful Bartlett collecting.

The keeper had another easy save to make moments later, this time Lois Maynard hitting a weak effort when well-positioned on the edge of the penalty area.

Then Richie Allen cut inside and fired in a shot that skimmed the top of Bartlett’s bar, the attack starting after former Gateshead defender Liam Hogan stepped of defence by intercepting Syers’ attempted through-ball to Ferguson.

Phenix’s nightmare afternoon continued when he blasted the ball into the stand when he had the whole goal to aim at, and the third squandered opportunity proved to be his last touch as he was then substituted.

Salford having been on top throughout the second half led to Darlington making a tactical change, Leon Scott for Josh Gillies, and soon the pacey Harvey Saunders replaced Caton for the closing stages.

Saunders’ first involvement saw him barged over by Piergianni, but penalty appeals were fanciful, and he was soon back on his feet to block the defender’s clearance.

There was little incident of note in the final minutes, aside from Hogan escaping a booking when he needlessly clattered into Ferguson at the corner flag.

But in injury time Saunders recieved Chris Hunter's ball down the right, the youngster showing composure to picked out Ferguson on the far side of the penalty area and he smashed home his second goal of the game.

Goal: Ferguson (44, 0-1), Ferguson (90, 0-2)

Bookings: Brown (26, dissent); Allen (38, foul)

Referee: Sam Mulhall

Salford City (3-4-1-2): Crocombe; Hogan, Livesey, Piergianni; Nottingham, Burton Maynard, Touray; Allen; Phenix (Dudley), Dieseruvwe. Subs (not used): Askew, Beesley, O’Gunrinde, Aghayere

Darlington (4-4-2): Bartlett; Hunter, Brown, Collins, Galbraith; Gillies (Scott), Syers, Turnbull, Ferguson; Beck, Caton (Saunders). Subs (not used): Wilczyski (gk), Marrs, Fenwick