Normal away service was resumed for Darlington as they won for the first time in 30 years at Griffin Park.

There were some question marks over Quakers when they were thumped 5-1 at Hereford in their previous away game, but they were back to their travelling best against Terry Butcher's side, and are now back in the automatic promotion places.

Manager Dave Penney outwitted former England international Butcher, who used a 4-5-1 formation until midway through the second half, and said: "Last season, we didn't have enough mobility and pace in the team, but now we've got it in abundance. The work ethic is also very good amongst the players, they're all working very hard."

"I was surprised they went 4-5-1, and it wasn't until they went 4-4-2 that they caused us problems. But we could have been three or four up by then. However, I'm very pleased that we've kept a clean sheet and scored two goals on the road. That's eleven clean sheets in 16 matches - it just proves that the Hereford game a fortnight ago was a blip."

The game was virtually won in the first half. Quakers took the lead on sixteen minutes when Tommy Wright was tripped by Brentford defender Matt Heywood as he tried to turn in the box, and Clark Keltie - who hasn't scored in open play for three years - blasted the penalty past Brentford keeper Simon Brown.

Brentford, playing with just one up front, missed a chance to equalise before Quakers scored a second following a trademark breakaway. John Brackstone swept a forty yard pass out to the right where Julian Joachim stepped inside his man, and after Gregg Blundell's close range effort from his cross was cleared off the line, Tommy Wright forced the ball home for his ninth goal of the season.

The dominance of Alan White and Steve Foster in the air allowed Quakers to break with plenty of pace, and they could have scored more goals in the second half after Penney withdrew Wright as a precaution after being booked.

Debutant Richie Foran, on loan from Southend, was denied by a one handed reflex save by Brown and Blundell, who had his best game in a Darlington shirt, should have had a second penalty after being tripped in the box, and saw another effort go just wide.

Brentford: Simon Brown, Starosta, Mackie, Heywood (Charles 79), O'Connor, Shakes (Connell 62), Pead (Dickson 62), Moore, Poole, Ide, Thorpe. Subs: Masters, Smith, Connell, Charles, Dickson.

Darlington: Stockdale, Austin, White, Foster, Brackstone, Joachim, Keltie, Cummins, Foran (Colbeck 79), Wright (Abbott 51), Blundell (Miller 88). Subs: Oakes, Ravenhill, Colbeck, Abbott, Miller.

Brentford bookings: Moore, Dickson, Mackie.

Darlington bookings: Keltie, Foran, Wright.

Goals: Keltie 17th min (1-0)(pen), Wright 37th min (2-0).

Ray Simpson