Darlington under 23s stayed on course for a place in the top two with a comfortable 5-0 win over Crook Town Youth at Eastbourne on Saturday.

Goals from Jack Mortimer, Matthiew Kirokiro, Steven Dawson (2) and Ethan McLoughlin gave Quakers victory, which keeps them eight points ahead of Middlestone Moor who have played six games less.

The result means that Quakers need seven more points from five games to be assured of a top two place.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said; “It could have been a bigger score line if it wasn’t for the heroics of the Crook Town goalkeeper, who pulled off some fantastic saves. The Darlington defence was extremely strong with an excellent debut from Archie Small who was calm, assured and played some fantastic balls from the back to transition from defence to attack.

“We just need to keep winning games over the next few weeks.”

With a very slight change of the starting 11 which showed Darlington were going to go very attacking in this game and a debut for the U23s for Archie Small in the back line.  Immediately from the kick off, the home team applied pressure and in the 9th minute Jack Mortimer put them 1-0 up, with his 41st goal of the season.

The same pressure was applied but apart from not taking their moments in front of goal, making the wrong decision or some brilliant saves from the Crook goalkeeper, it remained 1-0 till the 35th minute when Matthiew Kirokiro made it 2-0.

Half time came with no changes and we started the second half full of flair and determination and Alex Dawson made it 3-0 in the 55th minute. They continued to press and play their way and a ball from a corner came out to the edge of the box and Dawson slotted home with precision to make it 4-0.

With the points practically won at this point substitutions came a plenty and Ethan McLoughlin came on and provided an increase in energy and was rewarded with a goal in the 83rd minute to which it stayed till the final whistle.

The Under 23s are at Durham Corinthians this Saturday.