DARLINGTON continued their blistering start to the season as a comprehensive defeat of Alfreton made it three wins from three games having scored ten goals in the process.

They go to York City on Tuesday in good heart having beaten Salford City 2-0 last week, Gainsborough Trinity 4-3 on Wednesday and today put four past Alfreton – but only after conceding inside the first minute.

Alfreton took the lead on 31 seconds at Blackwell Meadows, Phil Turnbull and Gary Brown contriving to give possession away, and handing the visitors a chance to score. Craig Westcarr saw goalkeeper Adam Bartlett block his effort, but Chris Sharp was on hand to make it 1-0.

But just 66 seconds later summer signing James Caton levelled matters with his first goal for Quakers, firing into the roof of the net from close range after Brown’s ball into the penalty area following a throw-in.

Quakers then took the lead for the first time on 37 minutes when David Ferguson got to the byline and crossed to the back post, where Dave Syers’ header was blocked and Josh Gillies rammed home.

Ferguson, who has started the season in top form, turned scorer ten minutes into the second half, cutting in from the left to finish beyond Chris Elliott with his right foot after Caton’s pass.

Ferguson was involved in the fourth goal too. His cross-field pass was headed down by Mark Beck into the path of Gillies, who showed great technique to guide the ball in off the post for 4-1.

Goals: Sharp 1 (0-1); Caton (2, 1-1), Gillies (37, 2-1), Ferguson (55, 3-1), Gillies (63, 4-1)

Referee: Tom Parsons

Attendance: 1,547

Darlington: Bartlett, Hunter, Brown, Collins, Galbraith, Gillies, Syers (Scott 58), Turnbull, Ferguson, Beck (Fenwick 65), Caton (Thompson 65). Subs not used: Wilczynski, Saunders

Alfreton: Elliott, Topliss, Shiels, Priestly, Wood, Whitehouse, Disley, Platt (Nyoni 65), Jennings, Sharp (Johnson 21), Westcarr. Subs not used: Allan, Robertson, McGowan