Radcliffe Borough 0 Darlington 2

Darlington coasted through to the next round of the FA Trophy with a comfortable 2-0 success at Radcliffe Borough that stretched their winning run to a magnificent seven matches.

First-half goals by Terry Galbraith and Alan White put Quakers into a position they never looked likely to relinquish and in doing secured first round tie at Scarborough in a fortnight’s time.

While Darlington could only draw 1-1 at Radcliffe recently in the league, today’s one-sided display was worthy of a greater winning margin.

Radcliffe, though, were almost handed the lead early after a mistake by goalkeeper Peter Jameson.

His poor kick gave possession to Sam Howell who should have picked his spot to beat the stranded keeper, but the effort was tame and Quakers cleared and Martin Gray’s side soon took control.

After pinning the visitors back, Darlington 1-0 up with a penalty by Galbraith on 22 minutes Goalkeeper Chris Cheetham had clattered into Amar Purewal when trying to catch the ball on the edge of the box, but the striker shielded the ball and Cheetham was booked for the foul.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 up with White scoring his third goal in as many games.

As per the previous two goals, it was a header, this one coming after meeting an Adam Mitchell corner at the near post.

From that point the game was out of reach for the hosts, whose only threat came from speedy right-winger Bevan Burey, however, he met his match in Darlington’s Ian Watson and Chris Hunter, who were both more than quick enough to snuff out his threat.

In the second period, when they began kicking up the substantial slope, Darlington had a handful of chances to add to their advantage, the first falling to Purewal He saw a shot saved by the keeper after Darlington burst through the middle with Stephen Thompson carrying the ball forward. He laid the ball off to Mitchell and he passed to Purewal, whose first-time shot was saved.

Just before the hour came Radcliffe’s first shot of note, Burey shooting low from 18 yards into Jameson who held the ball well, but it was a rare moment of danger for Darlington who were always in control.

Radcliffe’s Danny Lafferty got a foot in to prevent Thompson’s sideways pass reaching Purewal, who would’ve made it 3-0 inside the six yard box.

Another chance went begging when Thompson shot wide after Purewal knocked down Mitchell’s cross, but the forward was off target from ten yards and was immediately substituted by Adam Cocks.

In the closing stages Quakers gave a first outing to youth team player Nathan Stephenson on a day when Matty Lovegreen enjoyed a solid debut at right-back.

He was called on as Gary Brown has been suffering with flu, so the teenager from Shildon, a member of the club’s youth team, stepped in and looked at ease during his first start for the first team.

He will play on Tuesday in the Durham Challenge Cup at Spennymoor Town, which Gray sees as an opportunity to rest his senior players so will select a team of teenagers.

Goals: Galbraith pen (22, 0-1), White (25, 0-2)

Bookings: Cheetham (22, foul); Hunter (53, foul); Lambert (56, foul), White (78, dissent)

Referee: M Rawcliffe

Attendance: 185

Radcliffe Borough: Cheeetham, Wedge, Magee (Sherlock 75), Lafferty, Smith, Howell, Burey, White (Landregan 46), Mason (Hindle 57), Rokka, Lambert. Subs (not used): Hulme

Darlington: Jameson; Lovegreen (Hatch 54), White, Hunter, Watson; A Mitchell (Stephenson 86), Portas, Scott, Galbraith; Purewal, Thompson (Cocks 77). Subs (not used): Bell (gk), Preston