Darlo could have won their final pre-season friendly by more goals at the Horsfall Stadium.
After the players settled down following an uneasy first twenty minutes, they played some good football with Mark Convery prominent on the right side of midfield, while the defence looked solid on Steve Foster's return from injury. It looked as if Colin Todd had decided to field his first choice defence from the start to give them time to know each other - Paul Arnison on the right, Ian miller and Steve Foster in the middle, and Mark Bower on the left.
Quite the most intriguing inclusion in the Darlo starting line up was Olusola Aganun, who is with Huddersfield, and says that he is related to Newcastle's Obefami Martens. Even if he isn't, he looks like him!
The Avenue probed for openings early in the game, but they rarely threatened David Knight in the Darlo goal, although Steve Downes and Luke Gibson caused one or two problems.
Darlo took the lead on 28 minutes. Convery, who had an excellent game in a wide right role, got to the bye line and drove the ball into the six yard box where Lee Thorpe's effort was blocked, but Aganun followed up to score.
Five minutes later it was 2-0. Again, Convery worked himself into space, and crossed towards the penalty spot where Thorpe beat the keeper with a header into the bottom corner. Thorpe should have scored another just on half time when Convery found him breaking clear into the box, but after he rounded the keeper he pulled his effort wide.
Avenue just had the one real opening when Luke Gibson charged into the box, but Knight spread himself well and blocked his shot.
Manager Colin Todd, as expected, made pelnty of changes in the second half. Dean Windass replaced Aganun for the start of the second half, and midway through Todd made six more that disrupted the flow of the game, but more importantly gave him the chance to look at some players, such as James Marwood, son of former Arsenal and Sheffield United midfielder Brian, and defender Ricky Baines, who has been at Macclesfield and Coventry.
Darlo looked set to keep a clean sheet, until Avenue sub Jorden Missin beat Nick Liversedge with a header in stoppage time.
Manager Colin Todd was very happy with the first half display, that had Quakers 2-0 up at half time. "I thought the back four looked very strong, and that was very important. It was great to have the skipper, Steve Foster, back in the line up, because he's a leader and a winner. I think we're pretty close to a good back line."
"I thought that our two central midfielders needed to get on the ball better, while Lee up front needs to remember that the game is simple sometimes. I thought that sometimes we have to be a bit better on the ball, but overall, there was a lot in the first half I was happy with."
Whether Aganun is invited back for training this week remains to be seen, but Todd has told James Marwood that he doesn't fit in. However, he might take another look at Ricky Baines, who fitted in well at right back, which isn't his usual position, when he came on.
And there might be the possibility of a couple of signings before the big kick off at Aldershot next Saturday, as Todd revealed that he is on the lookout for another midfield player, plus a defender and striker.
Darlington: Knight (Liversedge 65), Arnison (Bailes 65), Bower, Foster (Plummer 65), Miller (Williams 65), Lumsdon (Bennett 65), Thorpe, Convery (Marwood 65), Grainger, Aganun (Windass 45), Gary Smith. Sub not used: Riley.
