Darlington 3 New Mills 1

Play-off semi-finalists Darlington made ten changes and selected a youthful side, but still completed their league season with a comfortable 3-1 win against New Mills.

The game was of little significance to the league table, Quakers guaranteed to finish second and New Mills assured of relegation.

So manager Martin Gray used the occasion to name seven teenagers in the starting line-up and another four on the bench as he rested players with Wednesday’s play-off semi-final with Spennymoor Town.

Mark Bell, Paul Weldon, Nelson Mota and Ian Watson were the only senior players in the starting XI.

French winger Mota, usually a substitute, took his opportunity to impress by putting Quakers ahead on 17 minutes.

He cut inside and fired past Aaron Chalmers, New Mills’ stand-in keeper.

Chalmers, usually a midfielder, was in goal as the visitors had no keeper available.

New Mills soon hit back when striker Brandon Windsor levelled on 26 minutes. He controlled a long pass and dribbled into the penalty area, holding off Matty Lovegreen, and fired in off the crossbar.

But two goals in the second half gave Darlington their 28th league win of the season.

Striker Matty Pennal, who played briefly earlier this season, put Darlington ahead five minutes into the second half with a goal that owed much to Watson's work down the left.

Playing left-midfield, his darting run ended in a pinpoint cross to the near post where Pennal deftly headed home.

Pennal was unfortunate not to score a second. His side-footed finish from 18 yards rebounded off the base of the post into the keeper’s hands after good work by impressive strike-partner Ryu Williamson.

Williamson worked diligently and was one of the most impressive players on the pitch.

Two more teenagers came off the bench, Lewis Walton and Adam Lee-Shield for Watson and Mota, in a second half in which Darlington were on top for the most part and tried to play good football.

The two substitutes were involved in the third goal. A cracking strike by Walton lashed home from 18 yards after Lee-Shield’s cross been had been cleared to the edge of penalty area.

Connor Briggs replaced Pennal, but there were no more changes to the scoreline, Darlington finishing the season on 99 goals and with 91 points – one point more than last season, but two fewer goals.

They face Spennymoor Town in the semi-final at Heritage Park on Wednesday, a game that that Quakers fans have almost already snapped up their entire allocation of tickets. A small number will be available to buy at Blackwell Meadows on Monday.

*The other play-off semi-final is between Bamber Bridge and Northwich Victoria on Tuesday, Brig holding home advantage after finishing third in the table.

Goals: Mota (17, 1-0); Windsor (26, 1-1); Pennal (50, 2-1), Walton (71, 3-1)

Bookings: Lovegreen (82, dissent), Knight (84, foul)

Referee: Lucy May (Bedlington)

Attendance: 1,112

Darlington: Bell; D Mitchell, Lovegreen, Marley, Weldon; Mota (Lee-Shield 60), Wheeler-Andrews, Wilson, Watson (Walton 56); Williamson, Pennal (Briggs 73). Subs (not used): Jameson (gk), Rees

New Mills: Chalmers, Hopper, Moss, O’Brien, Barrett, Vincent, Pollard, Knight, Windsor, Owdlabi (Henderson 50), Fitton. Subs (not used): Hampson