THE class of '96 came back to haunt Darlington at the Williamson Motors Stadium last night.

Nine years ago Robbie Blake and Sean Gregan were part of Jim Platt's Quakers side, which reached Wembley for the first time in the old third division play-off final.

And, the former Feethams' favourites combined to inflict Quakers' first defeat in pre-season for Leeds last night.

It was Blake in particular who reminded his former club of his qualities - scoring the only goal of the game in the sixth minute.

And, with Gregan a familiar commanding presence at the back, Leeds provided Quakers with by far their sternest test of pre-season.

However, Hodgson will have taken plenty of positives from the game, with defender Joey Hutchinson gaining further match practice, while David Duke - on trial from Swindon - impressed at left-back.

After former Leeds striker Clyde Wijnhard forced an early save from Ian Bennett, David Healy should have given the visitors a fourth minute lead when he blazed over with the goal at his mercy.

But moments later Blake - who left Quakers for Bradford for £300,000 in 1997 and only joined the Whites earlier this week - drove the ball through a crowd of players and under debutant Bertrand Bossu.

French goalkeeper Bossu, who last week signed a one-year deal with Quakers after being freed by Gillingham, was then at full stretch to deny Healy after Shaun Derry's surging run.

Hodgson made a string of changes early in the second half introducing trialists Anthony Peacock, Dutch defender Matias Shelton, Walsall's Nathan Jameson and Hednesford midfielder Andy Bell.

In the 74th minute Jameson pulled his 25-yard effort just wide of Bennett's goal, but Quakers should have drawn level with an even better chance with just five minutes remaining.

It was Bell who was the guilty party. With just the keeper to beat he fired straight into the arms of Bennett.

And, with full-time approaching there were unsuccessful appeals for a Quakers penalty when substitute Akpo Sodje was barged over in the box by Matthew Kilgannon.

Darlington: Bossu, Valentine (Jameson 65mins), Clarke, Hutchinson (Shelton 60mins), Duke (Mason 81mins), Thomas (Kendrick 60mins), Appleby (Bell 81mins), Dickman (Peacock 60mins), Webster, Wijnhard (Sodje 60mins), Johnson (McGurk 81mins) Subs (not used): Maddison

Leeds: Bennett, Kelly (Richardson 55mins), Butler (Kilgannon 71mins), Gregan, Crainey, Wright (Walton 85mins), Derry (Spring 78mins), Bakke, Johnson, Blake (Einarsson 55mins), Healy (Ricketts 88mins) Subs (not used): Wilberforce, Harding, Pugh, Carlisle

Attendance: 3,494

Result: Darlington 0 Leeds United 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.