Spennymoor Town 3 Darlington 0

SPENNYMOOR TOWN will certainly be the happier of the two local rivals after they beat Darlington 3-0 in what was each clubs' last pre-season friendly at the Brewery Field.

Quakers put eight goals past Bishop Auckland on Tuesday when they fielded a first-choice side, and they were similarly strong last night although there was again no Kevin Burgess.

The defender, who has been named captain this week, was not in the squad, instead Alan White lined up alongside Chris Hunter for a game that saw Darlington wear their new all-red away kit for the first time.

The game was played at a fast pace in the early stages, with not as much intensity of previous league games between the two clubs.

Spennymoor’s most recent signing, Danny Frost, had the game’s first chance after four minutes when he broke through, but his weak shot was easily held by Darlington keeper Peter Jameson.

At the other end, Moors keeper Dan Lowson just managed to get his fingertips to an inswinging Terry Galbraith corner that came at him out of the blinding sun, then he did the same again to prevent a David Dowson shot from an acute angle dropping in.

Moors took the lead after 29 minutes when the Darlington defence were caught appealing for offside, and Frost latched on to the ball, sidestepped Lewis Gibbons' challenge, and rolled the ball past Jameson.

And Frost nearly caught Quakers again when he burst through, but Jameson blocked his powerful drive.

It was 2-0 on 34 minutes when Anthony Peacock drove the ball over to the far post, where Glen Taylor, another new Moors signing, turned the ball home from a couple of yards.

Quakers nearly pulled a goal back when sub Graeme Armstrong, who played the second 45 minutes, grazed the bar with a half volley from a Stephen Thompson knock down, then Armstrong couldn’t quite turn in a teasing cross from Gibbons. But the Moors defence was certainly a different proposition to Bishop Auckland’s.

Moors made sure of victory when Glen Taylor burst into the area, and beat Jameson at the second attempt.

Spennymoor Town: Lowson, Griffiths, Johnson, Dodds, Tait (sub Robinson 20), Capper (sub Mason 70) , Stephenson (sub Cogdon 75), Henry, Taylor (sub Risborough 80), Frost (sub Fisher 70), Peacock (sub Triallist 45). Subs (not used): n/a

Darlington: Jameson, Gibbons, Galbraith, White (Watson 55), Hunter, Portas (sub Scott 70), Mitchell, Turnbull, Dowson (Armstrong 45), Cartman, Thompson. Subs (not used): Scott, McLaren (gk), Nowakowski, Weldon.

Attendance 454.

Referee: Mr S Sugden