JUSTIN DONAWA is edging closer to a deal with Darlington after impressing manager Alun Armstrong while on trial, including with his performance in last night’s win at Northallerton Town.

Quakers cantered to a 4-0 victory with most of their first-team squad getting a game, as well as a handful of trialists with two of them scoring, including Donawa.

In the Bermudan’s latest outing he again showed a burst of pace and flair that look likely to see him offered a contract by Armstrong.

He said: “Sometimes you need a game-changer that you can bring on and he has raw pace.

“He might be the quickest player here, it would be a good race between him and Adam Campbell. Justin is an effortless mover, he just glides.

“He’s got something and he’s worth taking a gamble on and having a look to see if we can develop him.

“He has some attributes and he shows lovely flashes of skill at times. Sometimes he could be more selfish and can get a shot, but so could all of the front four.

“He’s been as good as gold, he’s taking on board everything we tell him and that’s all you can ask. We’ll put some work into him and he could be a find.”

Darlington were not given a thorough examination of their abilities against a club that were promoted to the First Division of the Northern League last season, this was more of a fitness exercise and little of note occurred for the most part.

Striker Cedwyn Scott put Darlington ahead just before the end of an uneventful first 45 minutes, putting the finish touch to a fine passing move involving Cameron Holliday, Omar Holness and Jarret Rivers.

Rivers, Darlington’s best player in the first half, was one of five Quakers substituted at half-time with winger Donawa replacing him and he made it 2-0 shortly after coming on, tapping in after Campbell had played the ball across goal.

It was 3-0 on the hour when overlapping left-back Michael Liddle ran on to Stephen Thompson’s ball and beat the Northallerton goalkeeper from a tight angle.

And Tom Lycett added the fourth in the dying minutes, the 18-year-old defender confidently lashing home a volley after a corner.

Darlington: Elliott, Holliday, Laing (Burn 46), Galbraith (Lycett 71), Watson (Liddle 46), Rivers (Donowa 46), Hatfield (Bascombe 60), Holness (Stansfield 67), Bell (Thompson 46), Scott (Tyrell 71), O’Neill (Campbell 46).

Attendance: 384