Brian Atkinson was one of the star performers in Darlington's impressive win over Leyton Orient on Tuesday evening but he admits to being wary of Quakers' next opponents, rock bottom Exeter City.

Quakers put in a fine display against promotion-chasers Orient to win 3-0 and move up one place to seventh in the table, but in recent weeks, sides towards the relegation trapdoor have caused Darlington problems.

Both Carlisle and Torquay occupy positions at the bottom of the division but Quakers took only one point from the two games.

Atkinson has warned Darlington must avoid complacency.

"The bottom teams can beat the teams at the top, that's the story of the Third Division," admitted the ex-Sunderland schemer.

"Everybody beats each other in our League and with the players we've got we're capable of beating everyone in the division."

At Plainmoor on Saturday, Darlington outplayed their hosts for large parts of the match, creating several good chances, but they must have left their shooting boots at Feethams as several players passed-up golden opportunities to score.

The difference on Tuesday was that the players kept a cooler head in front of goal.

Atkinson said: "I thought we did well last Saturday and if we'd taken our chances it would've been a different story.

"At times against Orient it was the best we've played all season. The second goal was the best we've scored.

"It was a brilliant team goal, the type of thing we try in training."

Quakers have begun the season promisingly and with Exeter and Rushden providing the Feethams opposition in the next two home matches, Darlington can continue to head in the right direction.

But Atkinson well remembers last season's good start, and the previous campaign which ended in tears at Wembley.

"If we get the right balance and start taking our chances I think we'll do well," he said.

"It's a long way yet and we don't want to get carried away.

"If we keep doing well, hopefully we'll be there or thereabouts, but it's a tough League.

"Look at the team we had when we got to the play-off final. We should have been up by then. That year showed just how long a season is."

The Newton Aycliffe-born 30-year-old was denied the opportunity of adding to his one goal so far this season, scored in the 2-1 win at Hartlepool, when Mark Ford volunteered to take Quakers' first-half penalty.

Atkinson has been Quakers' regular penalty-taker since Marco Gabbiadini joined Northampton last year, but Ford took on that mantle when Darlington were awarded a spot-kick in Atkinson's absence against Kidderminster last month.

On Tuesday Ford stepped-up again, but after notching penalties against Kidderminster and Lincoln, the ex-Torquay captain saw his effort saved.

"Of course I fancied taking it but Fordy hadn't missed one this season but hopefully I'll get the chance to take one now," admitted Atkinson. "But it worked out well in the end."

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