Darlington wrapped up their home pre-season schedule with a 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough u23s.

Quakers looked tired, particularly during the first half, which saw them sit too deep.

Afterwards however manager Alun Armstrong explained that the lack of a training session on Tuesday evening due to the intense heat, meant the players were worked extra hard on Thursday which resulted in some heavy legs.

"It was a tough session, I think you could tell from the off the lads weren't physically in good nick," said Alun after the game.

"With the Gateshead game being off on Tuesday and the training session not happening because of the weather we ran their legs off on Thursday night, and I think you could tell. There wasn't any energy or sharpness in the lads."

"We sat a bit deeper than what we normally do but that was down to fatigue in the lads. But it was good to get 90 minutes into some key players and there was 45 minutes for Beck and Hazel as well."

Darlington's efforts in the second half were at least rewarded with another goal for Jacob Hazel. Jack Lambert picked up a lovely ball forward from David Wheater and Lambert put the ball into the path of Hazel who finished coolly.

"He just gets into the right areas. We've been working on crosses and there was one today which ricocheted and dropped to him and he just seems to be in there," Alun said.

"I don't know how many times I said it last season, but if you get the ball between the sticks in the six yard box you've got a chance of it dropping to you. And he has the lovely habit of a goalscorer where the ball finds him. It's because he gets into the right areas constantly.

"It was a great bit of play by Jack as well. I think last season Jack would have had to have taken that shot because no one would have been up with him. That's the difference. Jacob will always want to score goals."

You can watch the full interview with the manager below: