A goal each from Mark Convery and Murray McDowell gave Darlington a 2-0 friendly win over Albany Northern League Guisborough last night.

It was a game in which Darlington boss Gary Bennett rested most of his first team regulars but handed four players the chance to impress after arriving on trial.

Dutch trialists Maurice Rayer and Mohammed Mahoote, who only travelled to England yesterday, joined Cowdenbeath striker Murray McDowell and midfielder Ben Sherwood on the list of players aiming to impress.

But Bennett was just pleased that his squad were able to come out on top. He said: "Some of them looked bright and it was good for them to get 90 minutes under their belts.

"It may have been 2-0 but the score didn't really bother me, it was just a case of giving a number of our players who didn't travel for the Ireland trip a chance to increase their fitness levels."

Darlington got off to a great start on just eight minutes when talented winger Mark Convery curled in a superb 25-yard free kick.

On 30 minutes the ex-Sunderland youngster had another opportunity to do exactly the same again, but this time his shot went over the bar.

An injury to wing-back Richard Hodgson forced the visitors into a formation change, switching to a flat back four, but the score remained the same at half time.

Guisborough had their chances and Darlington keeper Frank van der Geest had to be alert. But with 23 minutes remaining a saved Kirk Jackson shot was turned into the net by McDowell to give Quakers a two-goal cushion.

Bennett will now take a strong squad down to non-league Barrow tomorrow where is hoping to see more positive signs.

Darlington: van der Geest, Reed, G Liddle, Rayer, Convery, Campbell, Mahoote, Hodgson, Sherwood, Jackson, McDowell. Subs: Sheerin, Trainer, Coglin, Finch (GK)

Read more about the Quakers here.