HE claimed not to have seen the league table after Saturday’s win, but Martin Gray’s team could rise to the top tomorrow evening.

A comfortable as they come 3-0 win on Saturday against weak opposition, Halesowen Town, made it three wins in a row for Quakers, taking them up to second behind Blyth Spartans.

A home win tomorrow against bottom-of-the-table Ramsbottom United tomorrow evening would put Darlington on top should Blyth fail to win at third-placed Salford City, not that Gray is too interested in the table just yet.

Like The Northern Echo's Darlington FC Facebook page

Gallery of pictures from Darlington's 3-0 win at Halesowen Town

He said: “I’ve not looked at the table, but I know we’re at the right end.

“It’s early days yet, but as long as we’re involved at the top end that’s all that matters, as long as we’re up there and competing.”

Whether Darlington want the pressure that comes with being leaders is another matter. But while there are only seven games gone, it is heartening for fans to note that their team has four points more than they had at this stage 12 months ago.

Game seven last year, however, was against Salford, much tougher opposition than Halesowen, who are 22nd despite having somehow beaten Workington a week previously.

There was no danger of Darlington suffering the same fate. They were stronger in all departments, their defence in control to the extent that goalkeeper Peter Jameson used the afternoon as an opportunity for catching practice.

He recorded his second clean sheet of the season, while Graeme Armstrong, Kevin Burgess and Stephen Thompson got on the scoresheet.

“It was a solid performance and we did more than enough to deserve the win,” said Gray. “Halesowen have not had the greatest start to the season, but they’ve beaten Workington and Colwyn Bay and had two or three players that could’ve hurt us.

“We defended well and deserved the win. We could’ve been more clinical and if we’d taken our chances we could’ve been 3-0 up by half-time.”

It was only 1-0 at the break, Armstrong netting Quakers’ quickest goal of the season so far on three minutes, though Thompson had almost achieved the feat 60 second earlier.

The Northern Echo:

His shot was tipped over by Matt Sargeant, but Anthony Bell’s inswinging corner was headed home by Armstrong at the far post for his third goal in five appearances. Not bad for someone who spent a month in hospital after a major operation not long ago and is still considered not fully fit.

Darlington were on top for a lengthy spell thereafter, but unable to make the most of their possession, Phil Turnbull and Thompson both flashing efforts narrowly off target from 18 yards.

The West Midlands club then saw more of the ball for a period, though they did nothing to hurt Darlington.

Burgess got the second goal just before the hour. Left-back Ian Watson, again impressive in his role surging up the flank, delivered a free-kick from deep which the Darlington skipper did well to head over the keeper for his third of the season.

“I thought Burgess was outstanding,” said Gray. “He won big headers when he had to, he was commanding.

“He attacks the ball in both boxes, he’s determined and if you look at his record he always scored a few goals every season.

“At set-pieces he’s a threat, he’s aggressive like all centre-halves and wants to win the ball.”

Another centre-back, Halesowen’s Joe Hull, who was his team’s best player, almost scored a header too, seeing an effort saved when meeting a long throw, but it was 3-0 and game over 76 minutes when Thompson netted.

He robbed the dallying Isaac Cooper inside the opposition half and fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards to wrap up a victory earned without Alan White’s goal-poaching instincts.

He came off the bench in the closing stages but didn’t score this time, so now shares leadership of the goalscoring chart with Armstrong and Burgess on three each.

The only concern for Gray was right-back Lewis Gibbons having to be replaced by Adam Mitchell at half-time due to a back problem. He is now a doubt for tomorrow’s match, as is midfielder Tom Portas who was rested at the weekend due to a hamstring strain.

The Northern Echo: