Darlington gave six trialists their chance to shine as they finished third in a four-team tournament at Kingstonian this weekend.

Former Leyton Orient players KK Opara and Neil Gough played on Saturday in a 3-2 defeat to the hosts, while midfielders Mark Thompson and Ashley Nicholls both featured as substitutes in each game, including yesterday's 1-0 win in the third place play-off against Brentford.

Left-back Ryan Valentine, who has spent pre-season on trial, featured in both games, performing well yesterday while Greg Rioch, who plays in the same position, started against the Bees having been released by Macclesfield.

Twenty-year-old striker Gough, who spent time on loan at Chelmsford City earlier this year, played in the second half on Saturday while, Nigerian Opara, a forward who was released from boss Tommy Taylor's old club in May, replaced Barry Conlon after the big front-man left the pitch early against Kingstonian after scoring the opener with a header minutes earlier.

Kingstonian replied to Conlon's goal by scoring three of their own on 23, 64 and 75 minutes before substitute Paul Campbell managed a consolation strike from six yards.

Thanks in no small part to a first-half Andy Collett penalty save yesterday, Darlington deservedly finished as the third-placed team after a good second 45 minutes against last season's Second Division play-off losers. The winner came from a Clark Keltie strike on 70 minutes which was parried by the keeper but trickled over the line.

Diminutive youth team midfielder Michael Coghlan came on as a substitute in both games after impressing on the training ground against Halifax last Thursday while new signing Matt Clarke played as a striker during yesterday's second period. At Halifax he began his career as a forward but moved into defence after failing to score a single goal although he did manage a strike in his first match at the back.

Absent at Kinsgmeadow were Danny Mellanby, who has had a back problem, Richard Hodgson, who suffered an injury against Halifax last Thursday, and Brian Atkinson, still struggling with a knee injury incurred late last season. Gary Pearson now looks likely to be out of action for around six months after being told he requires surgery on his neck.

Darlington v Kingstonian: Porter; Betts, Liddle, Clarke, Valentine; Wainwright, Maddison, Ford, Rundle; Clark, Conlon. Subs used: Collett, Nicholls, Gough, KK Opara, Campbell, Reed, Thompson, Keltie, Convery, McGurk, Coghlan.

Darlington v Brentford: Collett; Betts, Liddle, McGurk, Rioch; Wainwright, Maddison, Campbell, Rundle; Clark, Naylor. Subs used: Convery, Clarke, Thompson, Nicholls, Valentine, Reed, Keltie, Ford, Coghlan

* Aberdeen have decided not to offer a contract to Turkish trialist Omer Riza.

The former Arsenal and West Ham striker was told the news after he had saved the Dons from an embarrassing defeat at part-timers Brechin City.

Riza struck a late equaliser to earn Ebbe Skovdahl's side a 4-4 draw at Glebe Park on Saturday.

He said: ''The sole reason they gave is I'm too similar a player to Darren Mackie. I'm a bit gutted because I gave it everything I had.''

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