Darlington got their season off to a winning start thanks to a Liam Hatch goal – just as they did 12 months ago.

On the opening day a year ago Hatch scored the only goal of the game inside the first ten minutes against Newport County, and today against Braintree Town he did the same, though this time Quakers had to wait.

His header, on the end of a Kris Taylor cross came with only seven minutes to play of a frustrating game for Mark Cooper's team.

The manager handed debuts to five players, but his team took a while to gel and were disappointing during the first 45 minutes.

In fact, Braintree so nearly took the lead. Ben Wright shot on the turn after a right-wing cross by Lewis Merril-James whch was superbly tipped over by Sam Russell. And marauding left-back Aswad Thomas fired narrowly wide from edge of penalty area.

After the break Quakers improved and upped the tempo while Braintree struggled to get forward, but Graeme Lee wasted a chance to scored on his debut.

After a Marc Bridge-Wilkinson corner the ball dropped invitingly at the far post, Lee swung his left foot back but completely missed his connection.

Darlington again came close soon after. After Hatch struck the post, Taylor's follow-up was blocked by Pat O'Connor and then Bridge-Wilkinson clipped the top of the crossbar.

Finally the breakthrough came on 83 minutes. Hatch played the ball out wide to the left, Taylor delivered a delicate chip back into the danger area where Hatch headed home.

It was reward for continuing to press, though Quakers had Lee to thank for a goal-line clearance deep into injury-time. Five added minutes were played at the end of which Braintree were awarded a free-kick from which Matt Pain headed towards goal and, with Russell beaten, Lee cleared the danger.

Darlington are next in action at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday evening.

Goal: 1-0 (83, Hatch) Bookings: Hatch (43, foul); Davis (54, time wasting) Referee: Darren Bond (Burscough) Attendance: 2,268 Darlington: Russell; Purkiss, Miller, Lee, G Taylor; Chandler (McReady 59), K Taylor, Atkinson; Bridge-Wilkinson (Bowman 69); Hatch, Walshaw (Campbell 80). Subs (not used): Pocklington (gk), Arnison Braintree Town (4-4-2): McDonald; O'Connor, Paine, Baily-Dennis, Thomas; Merril-James, Symons (Quinton 86), Davis, Reason (Yiadom 69); Marks, Wright (Chilaka 70). Subs (not used): A Jones (gk), M Jones