By Martin Walker

Darlington just held on for a 1-0 victory at home to Newport in the opening day of the season.

Liam Hatch's fourth-minute goal gave Mark Cooper the winning start he was looking for, but the Quakers had Sam Russell to thank for a man-of-the-match second-half performance as County pinned Darlo in their own half.

Russell made a number of fine stops in a scrappy second-half which Darlington can come to expect from the Blue Square Bet Premier League.

The Quakers were off to a flying start when Hatch opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

Richard Offiong won a free-kick just inside Newport's half and Arnison's deep ball was met by Hatch who nodded into Glyn Thompson's far post.

Newport opened Darlington up after 10 minutes when Craig Reid nipped in behind the back line but his cross-shot was well wide of Sam Russell's right-hand post.

Chris Senior had a half-chance in the 17th minute when Gary Smith's ball bounced off Offiong inside the area but Senior's snatched shot was well over.

Offiong threatened to double Darlington's lead in the 20th minute when the on-loan striker turned on the left-hand edge of the penalty area but flashed a right-footed effort wide of Thompson's near post.

Gary Smith hit a speculative 35-yard free-kick wide after 33 minutes and Offiong did well inside the area again in the 35th minute but curled a shot well over Thompson's bar.

Hatch went close to grabbing a second in the 38th minute when Arnison did well down the right and whipped in a curling cross - the big striker did well to meet the ball but couldn't get over it and sent his header well over.

Darlo threatened again in the 41st minute when Newport only half-cleared Smith's corner. Terry played the ball back in to Hatch and his shot was deflected but Thompson managed to gather.

Darlington forced the first save of the second half out of Thompson in the 49th minute when Hatch and Senior combined to set up Chandler on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected safely into the 'keeper's hands.

County had a shot on goal in the 52nd minute when Austin conceded a free-kick 35 yards out, and, got a yellow card into the bargain, but Danny Rose's set-piece was straight at Russell and he saved easily.

Russell pulled off a great save in the 58th minute when Charlie Henry found space just outside the six-yard box but his stinging shot was tipped over by the Darlo shot-stopper.

Henry probed again a minute later as County started to push for an equaliser. The midfielder hit a a right-footed drive from about 25 yards which looked destine for the bottom left-hand corner but Russell got down to smother it.

Henry stung Russell's hands in the 65th minute, forcing another save out the 'keeper, before Gary Warren headed wide from Henry's corner.

Substitute Tommy Wright did well to latch on to Hatch's flick-on in the 68th minute, just a minute after replacing Senior, but dragged his shot wide.

But County started to pile the pressure on when Russell had to Jamie Collins' header over the bar for a corner. And Collins forced another save from Russell again from the resulting set-piece, shooting at the keeper's legs at the far post.

The visitors went close to a leveller again in the 75th minute when Reid did well to turn and shoot from a looping ball but his left-footed effort was inches wide of Russell's left-hand post.

Henry was guilty of wasting another chance for County in the last minute when he met Collins' deep, curling cross at the far post but headed wide as four minutes was added on by referee Scott Duncan.

Darlo were clinging on for dear life in added time. Russell just managed to gather Foley's scrambled shot in a frantic penalty area as County pinned the home side in their own penalty area.

Russell was to thank again in the dying moments when he showed good hands to gather Knights' right-wing cross, and Cooper's men did just enough to hold on for three points.