Top of the table Penney keeps it all in perspective

"We are top of the league" chanted the Darlington fans after seeing their team put on their best performance of what has been a impressive start to the season.

For the first time in 18 years Quakers are unbeaten in their first six league games, and have won four of those matches by scoring 11 goals and keeping a remarkable five clean sheets.

In the entire Football League no team has conceded less goals and only two have scored more.

Manager Dave Penney, however, is far too realistic to be caught revelling in the moment. Far from it in fact. He maintains a level-headed approach and Saturday was no different.

Sensing the upbeat mood when about to speak to the media immediately after the win, before a question was even asked Penney took his seat and reminded everyone: "Early days yet, very early days."

After enduring some horrible seasons - and even worse football in recent years - fans are justified in enjoying being top, but Penney prefers to keep the situation in perspective.

Quite right too. At this stage last season, Hartlepool United were in the bottom half of the table while Wrexham were riding high in the play-off zone.

Forty games later and Pools were celebrating promotion while Wrexham were merely thankful to still be in League Two after winning a last day battle with relegation.

"It's still early days yet, we all know that," said Penney. "It was very quiet in the dressing room after the game actually. There was a bit of jumping about after we beat Rotherham last week but this was different.

"I think it was quiet because the players knew we had done a complete, professional performance.

"There are enough senior players here to make sure nobody gets carried away."

Penney and his players may not be getting carried away, but there is no denying Darlington are setting the pace at the top of what is an admittedly early league table, and are there on merit.

No opposition has yet been steamrollered into submission. Instead, Darlington's reliable defence is used to snuff out the attacking threat and, with the likes of Pawel Abbott and Julian Joachim playing, goals are always likely.

Saturday's match was a prime example. Lincoln's attacks were limited to reaching the edge of Quakers' penalty area, while Darlington created chance after chance and would have taken the lead sooner had Tommy Wright not endured a disappointing day in front of goal.

Abbott had already rattled the crossbar when Wright, teed-up by his strike-partner, hesitated and missed his chance to shoot when he could have scored from 12 yards.

Moments later he misconnected when he got an outstretched boot to Joachim's cross, but the Darlington chances kept coming with livewire Rob Purdie and Joachim both going close.

Ten minutes before the break the deserved goal came and this time Wright made a telling contribution. His challenge prevented the keeper from sufficiently dealing with Alan White's cross and the ball fell to Abbott who volleyed into the net impressively.

When lesser players would have taken a touch, lifted their head and tried to pick their spot, Abbott's natural striker's instinct meant he was able to lash the ball home from 12 yards.

Wright then hit a shot just wide and Joachim was denied by the keeper before the break, which should have seen Darlington walk off with a healthy lead.

Instead, it was only 1-0. Then 2-0 straight after the restart, or 43 seconds to be exact.

Joachim, again, was the provider. His cross was half-cleared to the edge of the penalty area where Ricky Ravenhill deceived the keeper with a scrappy finish that rolled down his leg, shin and toe before hitting the back of the net. Not one you will ever see in any striker's manual.

From an entertainment point of view, the goal killed the game off. From that point Quakers were comfortable and happy to contain Lincoln whose best efforts, due to Darlington's reliable defence, rarely worried keeper David Stockdale.

A Lewis Dodds shot did beat the keeper but hit the post while Darlington, the hard work having been done, declined to venture too far forward.

The closing stages were particularly comfortable and were the ideal situation for sub Clark Keltie, christened 'Ravanelli' on his entrance by a fan in the stands due to the midfielder's new choice of hair colour, to play his first football of the season after injury.

But such was the ease in which the three points were earned, many supporters in the paltry crowd of 4,075 began to leave with five minutes to go. Fascinating how being top of the table can become passe so easily.

"It was a good performance, but I'd like to have got a couple more goals to kill them off properly," admitted Penney.

"It was solid and professional and I thought we were better than we were at Rotherham last week.

"It was probably the best of the season, the most complete performance so far."

Incidentally, for those looking for an omen, Darlington were last unbeaten during the first six matches of 1989/90 and 84/85 - and were promoted at the end of both seasons.