The Academy were beaten 4-1 at league leaders Guiseley on Wednesday in the National League Under 19 Youth Alliance – but they weren’t disgraced.

High-scoring Guiseley are one of the best teams in the country, let alone the division, and Darlington kept them on level terms for the first hour.

Head coach Alan White said; “It was a similar game to last time when we played them – we held them for an hour, and they scored two in double quick time.

“I thought there were some good performances, and Cameron Holliday, who scored our goal to make it 2-1, was our man of the match at right back.

“But then Guiseley scored again to make it 3-1, and they scored another late in the game. We made mistake that cost us goals.

“Again though, our lads were up against players a year older than them, and you could see the difference in maturity.”

The goal that Cameron scored was only the eighth goal that Guiseley have conceded this season in ten league games.

The Academy lads, who are ninth in the league, are in action next Wednesday against Halifax at Blackwell Meadows, kick off 1.30