By Martin Walker in the Lakes

Darlington made it two wins in two with a hard-fought win over Northern Premier League side Kendal Town in the Lake District.

Two days after their 3-0 win at Blue Square North side Workington, Mark Cooper's side recorded their second victory of the pre-season.

Striker Tommy Wright bagged his first Quakers goal since returning to the club, scoring after 30 minutes.

Kendal looked to have earned a draw after substitute Dave Foster equalised with a scrappy goal nine minutes from time.

But young striker Michael Smith grabbed a late winner in the 88th minute, rolling the ball into an empty net after good work by John McReady.

Kelvin Jack made his Darlington debut with the Trinidad and Tobago international being named in the starting XI at Kendal.

Cooper tinkered with the side which started at Workington on Tuesday night, while he also gave a start to former Rushden and Diamonds midfielder Paul Terry, the elder brother of England international John, who joined the club on trial today.

Cooper started with a central defensive partnership of Kevin Austin and Danny Hone, with Paul Arnison on the right and Dominik Werling on the left.

The midfield consisted of Chris Senior on the right, with Terry, Jamie Chandler and Gary Smith in the centre. Michael Smith and Wright started up front.

Darlington's first chance came inside the first 10 minutes when Senior almost scrambled the ball in from close range after Kendal failed to clear Werling's corner.

Senior hit a powerful effort straight against Gary Smith two minutes later and Chandler had a goal-bound shot charged down after 14 minutes.

Senior should have done better in the 24th minute when the forward lost his marker inside the area but skewed his header well wide from Werling's corner.

Darlo had half-hearted appeals for a penalty turned down two minutes later when Michael Smith fell from a Glen Steel challenge.

Senior was at it again after 28 minutes after a flowing move from back to front involving Gary Smith and Arnison. Senior turned inside smartly before firing wide.

Wright put Darlington ahead after half an hour, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to round goalkeeper Tom Newton and roll the ball into an empty net with a well taken goal.

The Quakers were still celebrating when Kendal nearly equalised straight away. Peter Wright snuck in behind the defence but Jack did well to stop the striker's effort in a one-on-one situation.

Shaun Gardner picked up the rebound on the edge of the penaty area but his shot was cleared off the line by Austin.

Darlington started the second half brightly and went close to doubling their lead within a minute of the re-start when substitute Josh Gray did well down the left before pulling inside for Curtis Main, but the young striker's shot was tipped wide by Newton.

Terry might have done better with a half-chance in the 48th minute, dragging a right-footed shot wide, and Keiran Walmsley shot just wide at the other end a minute later.

Josh Gray cracked Newton's left-hand post with a fierce drive from just outside the area from a neat lay-off by Michael Smith.

Danny Wisdom forced a save from Jack after 70 minutes when the left winger ran with the ball to the edge of the area before shooting low, with the Quakers 'keeper getting down well.

Foster pulled Kendal level with an ugly goal. Jack saved Foster's original shot but couldn't do much about the second effort.

Michael Smith put Darlington back in the lead after another defensive mistake by the home side.

McReady did well to get in behind a centre-back and beat Newton to the ball before laying off for Smith, and the young striker had the simple job of rolling the ball into an empty net.

Matchfacts
Goals: Wright, 30 mins; Foster, 81 mins; Smith 88 mins
Darlington: Jack, Arnison (Barnes, 45), Werling (P Gray, 72), Hone (Miller, 45), Austin, Senior (Moore, 58), Chandler (McReady, 45), Terry (Hopson, 72), G Smith (J Gray, 45), Wright (Main, 45), M Smith.
Unused: Russell.
Kendal: Newton (Fitch, 69), Walmsley (McGann, 69), Moran, Winters (Fleming, 73), Steel, Stopforth, Gardner (Tucker, 45), Melling (McDonald, 58), Taylor, Wright (Foster, 58), Wisdom.
Referee: Paul Kettlewell
Attendance: 154