Darlington 2 Sunderland 0

Darlington scored two first half goals to give their fans plenty to cheer about in this friendly win against a second string Sunderland.

Manager Martin Gray was very unhappy after the 5-1 home defeat by Newcastle on Saturday, and the players responded well, being much more tenacious and energetic, and holding a Sunderland team full of pros. Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce was also in the crowd with his coaching staff.

Quakers took the lead against the pros after just three minutes. Stephen Thompson won a corner on the left, and he struck the setpiece over to the far post where Kevin Burgess beat Srtyjek with a diving header.

Sunderland had a chance to equalise on 5 minutes when a careful build up outside the Darlington box ended with Jordi Gomez firing over, then Darlington keeper Peter Jameson saved from Charis Mavrias.

Quakers went 2-0 up on 25 minutes with a great goal. Jordan Watson played a good low ball into the penalty box for Mitchell to instantly control, beat a defender, and as the keeper advanced, struck a low shot that the keeper parried, and Nathan Cartman followed up to make sure from virtually on the line..

Sunderland nearly pulled one back on 37 minutes when Will Buckley pulled the ball back into the box for Mavrias to sidestep two challenges and rolled the ball past Jameson, but Jordan Watson was covering on the line and was able to clear.

Just on half time, Mike Ledger put an easy chance over the top from a left wing cross.

Half time Darlington 2 Sunderland 0

Sunderland had a chance at the start of the second half when Elliott Embleton hit a first time shot from the edge of the box straight at Jameson.

MG made four subs on the hour: off came Marrs, Gaskell, Cartman and Thompson, replaced by Amar Purewal, Liam Hardy, Lewis Nightingale and Harrison Scott.

One of the subs, Purewal, nearly scored on 66 minutes, when Nowakowski won the ball and found Mitchell, who switched the ball quickly into the middle for Purewal to control on his chest and fire just wide.

Quakers kept battling away right to the end, determined to keep a clean sheet, and also played some good football.

Full Time Darlington 2 Sunderland 0

Darlington: Jameson, Marrs (sub Scott 60), Watson, Turnbull, Burgess (sub Brown 45), Nowakowski (sub Burgess 80), Mitchell (sub Saunders 85), Portas, Gaskell (sub Purewal 60), Cartman (sub Hardy 60), Thompson (sub Nightingale 60)

Subs:  Bell

Sunderland; Srtyjek, Matthews, Casey, Bridcutt, Ledger, Brady, Gomez, Wright, Harvey, Mavrias, Buckley

Subs: Bone, Talbot, Nelson, Lawson, Embleton, Blinco, Pybus, Molyneux, Storey

Referee: T Harrington

Attendance 1,611