Darlington 3 Frickley Athletic 0.

Darlington produced some exciting football to win their first game in the EvoStik Premier Division at Heritage Park last night.

Quakers enjoyed some glorious spells of flowing football as they bounced back from their opening day defeat.

Quakers nearly took the lead on 4 minutes, when Adam Mitchell struck a 35 yard free kick that skidded off the turf, and Frickley keeper Sebasteon Malkowski just managed to push the ball around the post.

Frickley showed for the first time when Brad Dockerty made a good run down the left, worked his way inside, but sidefooted straight at Darlington keeper Peter Jameson.

Quakers then had a shaky few minutes. Again Dockerty worked his way free and Jameson saved, then the keeper had to stretch to save Thomas’ header from the resultant corner.

But Quakers recovered to take the lead after 22 minutes, when Tom Portas ran on to a through ball from Nathan Cartman and blasted it past the keeper.

However, Frickley nearly equalised when Jameson, under pressure, could only palm a right wing cross to the feet of Thomas, whose low shot was cleared off the line by Chris Hunter.

Quakers went 2-0 up on 33 minutes, when Tom Portas played the ball into the box, where it was helped on by Stephen Thompson for Nathan Cartman to volley home, with the Frickley defence appealing for offside.

Cartman nearly got a third, but Malkowski managed to block his fiercely-hit close range volley, and then Adam Mitchell dribbled round the keeper, but Jeffs covered his keeper and cleared off the line.

Frickley could never be ruled out of the game, and they nearly pulled a goal back with a free kick by James Kay from the right that floated past everyone and just past the far post.

But Quakers returned to their previous fast tempo, and Cartman set up Mitchell whose shot was well saved by Malkowski, who then just managed to stretch his left hand and stop Cartman from poking the ball past him.

Darlington manager Martin Gray took off Graeme Armstrong, who was starting his first game of the season, and replaced him up front with veteran Alan White.

Frickley kept going, and Jameson had to be alert to claw an effort over the bar by Luke Hornsey.

But it was all over with seven minutes left, when Frickley didn’t clear a Mitchell corner, and Burgess reacted first to put the ball into the roof of the net.

Darlington manager Martin Gray said; “I thought it was a very strong performance. We talked about getting back to winning ways after the weekend, and keeping a clean sheet. I thought Nathan Cartman was outstanding tonight, he was very sharp.”

Darlington: Jameson, Gibbons, Galbraith, Portas, Burgess (sub Watson 85), Hunter, Mitchell, Turnbull, Armstrong (sub Alan White 72), Cartman, Thompson (sub Scott 73).

Subs not used: Provett, Tom White.

Frickley: Malkowski, Parkinson, Kay, Hornsey, Jeffs, Ible, Hinsley, Lenighan, Johnson, Thomas (sub Williams 66), Dockerty.

Subs not used: Riley, Fotko, Wood, Ellam.

Bookings: Jeffs (foul), Mitchell (foul), Lenighan (foul).

Referee: Daniel Woodward.

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Attendance 908