Spennymoor Town and Darlington will both select under-strength teams when they meet this evening in the Durham Challenge Cup.

Both clubs have more important games to come, with Moors looking forward to an FA Cup tie on Saturday at home to Conference club AFC Telford, while Quakers’ boss Martin Gray has not hidden his disregard for the competition, last week calling it a hindrance.

In each of the last two seasons he has made major changes when Darlington have played in the county cup and will do so again at the Brewery Field (7.45pm) when he will send a team of teenagers, resting his senior players, who have had midweek games for seven consecutive weeks.

Gray has blooded some youth team players of late, partially due to injuries and also because he wants to give opportunities to the likes of as Adam Cocks, Matty Lovegreen and Matty Pennal.

Lovegreen made his first start for the club in Saturday’s FA Trophy win at Radcliffe Borough and did not look out of place while replacing flu victim Gary Brown at right-back, although it is not his favoured position.

“I’m usually a centre-back, but it’s okay playing at right-back when you’ve got Alan White playing next to you,” said the 18-year-old, who grew up as a Darlington supporter. “He keeps us organised and talks you through it.

“It’s much harder compared to the youth team, you’ve just got to play your own game.”

He added: “I’m a Darlo fan and I used to go to matches at the Arena with my dad and his mates. I had a season ticket. I supported them as a kid and now I’m playing for them, it’s quite big for me really.

“My favourite players were Whitey and Ian Miller and I was at Wembley for the Trophy final.

“I was in the youth section when it went bust, so I went to Doncaster for a year and a half and then signed back here.

“Martin has just told me to concentrate on my game and look after myself. He warned me people would close me down, it’s more physical so you’ve got to be quick. In the first five minutes I was nervous, but then you get into it and I felt confident after that.”

Moors' manager Jason Ainsley has one eye on his side's big FA Cup tie with Telford this weekend, and will give some of his fringe players an outing tonight, including Nathan Fisher, who last week left Darlington for Moors. "I'm using the game to give lads valuable minutes," said Ainsley.