DARLINGTON could again use the Durham Challenge Cup to give their senior players a run out in order to maintain fitness, says manager Tommy Wright, who selected a relatively strong side on Wednesday evening.

His team beat Esh Winning 3-1 having named several first team players, some of who will start Saturday’s league match at Leamington.

It is not a competition that has ranked highly in the club’s priorities in recent years, and while Wright hardly holds a burning ambition to win the local cup he does see some value in it.

“These cups are always questioned, they can be a nuisance but they can be helpful,” he said. “We needed that game this week and we fielded a strong team because those lads needed minutes.

“I’m not going to put pressure on us to win it, but we’ve started the academy this year and this competition is a way of getting those lads first team exposure.

“Maybe in the next round we will blood a few more youngsters and see where it takes us.”

Harvey Saunders, Alex Henshall and Mitchell Glover scored, Dave Syers and Jonny Burn were given a run out while the team was captained by Liam Hughes.

Wright added: “Hughesy is on a fitness plan. He played 70 minutes in the centre of midfield where we knew he would get a sweat on and he loved every minute of it.

“Alex Henshall needed 90 minutes because he hadn’t done that in a long time, Jonny Burn needed the game because it’s been a bit stop-start for him at the club due to injury and concussion.

“Dave Syers needed 90 minutes and with Harvey the plan was to play him for 45, but he did 70. I went into it thinking it was a bit of a risk, but he was desperate to play, he wanted the minutes.

“He hasn’t started loads of games this season so it was a case of ticking him ticking over, keeping him sharp and probably a good thing that he got a goal.

“Mitchell Glover had a good game too, so it was a worthwhile exercise.

“We’ve got some good young lads and I wanted to see them around senior players to see where they’re at, and they held their own.”