Darlington gave debuts to three players and earned three points, enjoying their first home league win of the season against Southport.
At the sixth attempt, Quakers won at Blackwell Meadows for the first time since the final match of last season.
They made a dream start by going 2-0 up after just 12 minutes.
Shortly after Cedric Main saw a shot palmed away by Southport goalkeeper Chris Renshaw, Jack Maskell put Quakers into the lead with a lovely finish.
Defender Elliot Forbes made a marauding run up the right, played a one-two with Main, and floated a ball into the centre of the penalty area where Maskell chested the ball down before volleying into the net.
And it was 2-0 when Aidan Rutledge charged down a Renshaw clearance, and winger Max Howells was on hand to score in an empty net.
Substitute Rutledge had made an early appearance as Main went off injured shortly after the first goal.
On-loan Middlesbrough youngster Howells was one of the three new loan signings in the starting XI, others being midfielder Paddy McLaughlin from York and goalkeeper Darryl Ombang from Leeds.
Ombang passed his first test midway through the half when he saved from Ted Lavelle after a corner.
Ombang also caught the eye by leaping to his left to parry a shot by Arthur Ginahoua after weak defending by Toby Lees gave Southport an opportunity.
Quakers were inches from 3-0 up. Renshaw saved Charlie Lennon’s shot, and amid a scramble winger Howell struck the underside of the bar at close-range.
Early in the second half, after Lennon cross from the left, Maskell’s stooping header saved by Renshaw.
Darlington faded as the game progressed, Southport seeing a lot more of the ball but they were weak in the final third.
Their hopes were bolstered when Forbes was sent off for a second bookable offence on 65 minutes having tangled with Adrien Thibaut, a harsh decision by referee Lewis Dawson.
However, the closest the visitors came to scoring was when Arthur Gnahoua’s shot from outside the penalty area heading for the top corner until it was acrobatically parried away by Ombang.
Darlington made three substitutions, Tom Allan, Tye Barton and Matty Cornish coming on, as manager Steve Watson his team to navigate what could have been a tricky final few minutes.
His team kept a clean sheet and rarely looked in danger, earning a win that sees Quakers move up to 13th.
Darlington (4-3-3): Ombang; Hedley, Lees, Forbes, Barrow; Howells (Allan 74), McLaughlin, McGowan, Lennon (Barton 70); Maskell, Main (Rutledge 11, (Cornish 77)). Subs not used: McGrath, Stanton, Platt
Southport (4-3-3): Renshaw; Edwards (Touray 71), Moore, Pickles, Minihan; Hilton (Simms 83), Lavelle (Pike 46), Keane; Thibaut, Gnahoua, Slew (McKenzie 77). Subs not used: Griffiths, Lloyd, Tabone
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