Dunston defeated National League North outfit, Darlington FC, by two goals to one after a controlled pre-season performance in the penultimate friendly of the season.

First half goals from Harvey Neary and Sado Djalo put Dunston two-goals up at the break. UTS also had a man advantage after Cedric Main was dismissed for a headbutt on JJ Chrisp. Jack Maskell pulled a goal back in the final 15 minutes of the game for visitors.

There were plenty changes to the squad with players rested as a precaution and players unavailable due to other commitments. Scott Robson, Scott Lowery, Dale Pearson, Dan Turner, Jack Walker and Alfie Turnbull were all unavailable.

The visitors appeared to start the brighter of the two sides as they had the ball in the net inside the opening five minutes however, Cornish was adjudged to be offside in the build-up.

Dan Lowson played the full 90 minutes and he was forced into an early save moments later denying a powerful strike from Cedric Main.

On seven minutes, the deadlock was broken as new signing, Harvey Neary, slotted home for his second goal in pre-season. Sado Djalo played an excellent first time pass to Neary who had acres of space and neatly dispatched past Jameson.

Dunston continued to apply the pressure after going a goal up, and Djalo was looking lively as he had a goal ruled out for an offside on the 15 minute-mark.

On 20 minutes, Dan Lowson was forced into his second save of the game as he swatted away a stinging effort from Main to preserve his sides’ lead.

The lead was then doubled with 25 minutes on the clock. Richard Coulson won back possession in the midfield and threaded a ball through to Djalo, who kept his composure and slotted past Jameson.

Dunston continued to look in control and almost had a third with just over half an hour played. David Robinson latched onto a ball over the top of the Darlington defence and he dragged an effort across the face of goal and narrowly wide.

The evening became even worse for the visitors with ten minutes still go in the first half. After an off the ball incident with Phil Turnbull, Main lashed out and headbutted JJ Chrisp and was shown a straight red card in the aftermath.

With the man advantage, Dunston continued to look a threat in attack as Robinson took aim with a dipping shot but was denied by an excellent diving save from Jameson. 

Moments before the break, Robinson almost set up Neary for his second as he played a low cross into the box, but Neary’s first time shot was once again excellently saved by Jameson.

With the second half underway, the first chance came for Dunston. McDonald’s long-range free kick took a deflection and trickled wide for a corner five minutes into the half.

On 64 minutes, it was the visitors’ turn to come close from a free kick as Hedley struck the crossbar with a powerful effort on goal. Lowson then made another fine save seconds later to keep the score at 2-0.

On 75 minutes, the familiar Jack Maskell almost pulled a goal back for The Quakers as he struck a low, driven shot on the volley, but his effort narrowly missed the target.

However, just a minute later, Maskell was not to be denied again as he halved the deficit scoring against his former club with a close range finish following a cross from the left.

Despite pulling a goal back, the visitors never really looked like levelling the game with one final half chance falling to Chrisp. The young midfielder curled a shot from outside the box whiskers past the post.

Dunston managed to see the game out and record an impressive victory against a side two divisions higher in the pyramid. Next up, we welcome Morpeth Town to The UTS Stadium on Friday night in our final friendly of the season.

Report by Callum Pattison

Image Credit - Beauty Time Photography