Three games into the season and Darlington remain unbeaten after drawing this afternoon at Kettering Town.

Mark Cooper's side were held to a 0-0 draw which means Quakers have five points on the board - it took them until November to do likewise last season.

It was a game of few clear chances but Darlington probably came closest to goal with midfielder Gary Smith seeing a close-range header saved by keeper Nathan Abbey who also pulled off a fine stop to deny Ian Miller late on.

Smith's effort came before the break when Kettering shaded the possession stakes but could not seriously test keeper Sam Russell.

The hosts' right-back John Dempster put a free header into Russell's hands and the keeper had to be alert to deal with an inswinging free-kick from James Dance.

Darlington striker Liam Hatch was a menace to Kettering with his aerial threat resulting in two first-half headers towards goal, the first saved by Abbey

Hatch started alongside Tommy Wright who was selected in the starting XI for the first time this season while winger Josh Gray was also in the line-up, as was new signing Aaron Brown.

The former Wrexham defender made his debut at left-back in place of the injured Kevin Austin, while Kettering gave a surprise appearance to former Sunderland and Darlington winger Martin Smith.

He retired through injury in 2008, but the player Sunderland supporters nicknamed 'Son of Pele' was used as a second half substitute by Kettering whose manager, Lee Harper played alongside Smith at Northampton.

His impact was minimal during a second period in which Quakers increased the tempo but again Abbey was rarely tested until the final ten minutes..

Sub John McReady almost smashed home a match-winner.

The teenager, on for Jamie Chandler who had picked up a booking, collected a pass from Richard Offiong but his first-time effort went narrowly over the bar and in injury time captain Miller saw a powerful volley tipped over by Abbey.

Matchfacts
Kettering: Abbey, Dempster, Graham, Westwood, Taylor, Noubissie, Boucaud (Solkhon, 81), Dance (Smith, 65), Makofo, Furlong (Ashikodi, 72), Marna.
Unused: Harper (GK), Jaszczun.
Darlington: Russell, Arnison, Miller, Hone, Brown, G Smith, Chandler (McReady, 65), Terry, Gray (Offiong, 65), Wright (Senior, 76), Hatch.
Unused: Jack (GK), Clarke.
Attendance: 1,350