Darlington's pre-season preparations ended on a winning note at Durham City last night.

Adrian Webster, Akpo Sodje, skipper Matt Clarke, Stephen Thomas and Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu grabbed the goals in a comfortable 5-1 win for Quakers, with Michael McKay replying for Durham.

A week today Quakers begin their League Two quest at Rushden but there is plenty for Hodgson to chew over before he makes the trip to Nene Park.

As well as the return to fitness of defender Joey Hutchinson, midfielder Thomas provided further encouragement with an assured second-half display at the Archibald Stadium. And with Sodje pushing strikers Clyde Wijnhard and Simon Johnson for a starting berth, Hodgson has plenty to take from a successful pre-season programme.

Trialists Carlos Logan and Andy Ferrell are both vying for the left-sided void left by Jason St Juste at the end of last season.

Logan started for Quakers last night and Hodgson is likely to give Ferrell a chance to stake his claim in a behind-closed-doors game against Queen of the South on Tuesday.

However, Hodgson could yet turn his attentions elsewhere after making an approach for a young Premiership winger.

Logan, freed by Manchester City at the end of last season, has made a favourable impression since linking up with Quakers on Tuesday. And Newcastle-born Ferrell has remained high in Hodgson's thoughts since impressing at Harrogate earlier this month.

Logan or Ferrell would become Hodgson's sixth signing of the summer after Dutch defender Shelton Martis and Anthony Peacock yesterday penned short-term contracts with Quakers. The pair have agreed moves until Christmas, with a view to an extended deal and will link up with their new teammates next week.

The arrival of Martis could see defender David McGurk rejoin York City on-loan. McGurk enjoyed a successful spell at KitKat Crescent last season and Minstermen boss Billy McEwan is keen to take the Teessider on a season-long loan deal. However, York face competition from two other club's for the 22-year-old.

With the return to fitness of Hutchinson, Hodgson has warned McGurk that first-team opportunities will be limited this season.

McGurk was named on the bench last night, along with youngster Chris Mason, who looks set to join Harrogate Town. With Wijnhard rested, Sodje partnered Johnson in attack.

Durham included former Quakers trio Gary Pearson, Dale Mendum and Garry Barnes in their starting XI.

Pearson, who left Quakers for York a year ago, was in the right place in the Durham box to charge down Johnson's early header from Webster's corner.

But, after a spell of pressure from the visitors, it was Webster who gave Quakers a 16th-minute lead. After beating the offside trap, Johnson saw his shot charged down by Durham keeper John Mohan, before Webster followed up to tap into an empty net.

Only the linesman's flag denied Quakers a second when Sodje, marginally offside, beat Mohan from close range after a strong run down the right from Ryan Valentine. Hutchinson also had a goal ruled out for offside minutes into the second half before Sodje made it two moments later, drilling low past Mohan.

Substitute McKay pulled a goal back for Durham in the 55th minute, firing low past Bert Bossu.

Clarke then restored Quakers' two-goal advantage and just seconds after his 68th-minute introduction, Thomas claimed the goal of the game, curling his free-kick into the top corner.

Ndumbu-Nsungu completed the scoring to press his claims for a permanent move.

DARLINGTON: Bossu (Russell 68mins), Valentine (Kendrick 45mins), Clarke (McGurk 68mins), Hutchinson (Mason 68mins), Duke, Dickman, Jameson (Thomas 68mins), Webster, Logan, Johnson (Ndumbu-Nsungu 45mins), Sodje.

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