A HANDFUL of Darlington players were given an extra opportunity to gain some pre-season action when they played for the reserves on Saturday, less than 24 hours after playing for the first team.

Having featured in Friday’s 2-0 win at Bishop Auckland, Liam Marrs, Arran Wearmouth and Harvey Saunders all played for the majority of Saturday’s match at Crook Town for the reserves.

Goalkeeper Peter Jameson lasted the 90 minutes against the Northern League opposition, Quakers losing 3-2 despite being 2-0 up at half-time.

Youngster Dale Milburn, beginning his first full year with the senior team, put Darlington ahead and Saunders, two days after celebrating his 20th birthday, made it 2-0.

But during a second half in which Marrs, Wearmouth and Saunders were all substituted, Crook scored three times through Jack Vaulks (2) and Luke Hogan.

Quakers’ joint-manager Mark Fanning told the club's official website: “We were very good in the first half, and could have been more than 2-0 up at half time.

“We made a few changes at half-time, but in the second half we just didn’t get going at all, and it was clear that some players need to learn quickly. We allowed them far too much space to score with two free headers.”

The reserves are next in action tomorrow evening at Seaham Red Star (7.30pm) when Tom Portas is due to make his long-awaited comeback from an ankle injury.

He has been taking a full part in training, but Quakers have been cautious with the midfielder.

The first-team play at Gateshead on Wednesday and their final friendly is on Saturday at Guiseley.

Meanwhile, Spennymoor Town continued their pre-season preparations on Saturday with a 6-2 win at Tadcaster Albion

Scorers were David Foley, Andrew Milne (og), Glen Taylor, Andrew Johnson, Jake Orrell and Jamie Chandler.

In Spennymoor’s starting XI was former Hartlepool United right-back Jordan Richards, who has impressed while on trial with Darlington and the previous evening played in Quakers’ friendly at Bishop Auckland.