Quakers found themselves up against a Boro team that included nine first teamers at Blackwell Meadows tonight.

Boro caught Quakers cold with two goals in the first six minutes, and the visitors built up a 4-0 lead by haf time.

But Quakers regrouped in the second half and gave a good account of themselves.

Boro took the lead in the second minute. A cross went into the Darlo box from the left, and Rudy Gestede headed over the keeper and into the net.

And Gestede got another on 6 minutes when he just managed to stretch and touch a through ball past the advancing keeper.

Quakers replied, and Leon Scott made a good run forward and hit a left foot shot that was deflected wide. Reece Styche headed the subsequent corner just over the top.

Josh Heaton then had a header cleared off the line from a left wing corner.

But Boro made it 3-0 on 27  minutes when Lewis Wing hit a terrific shot that rebounded off the crossbar, and after Gestede's follow up was blocked, Wing tapped the ball home.

It was 4-0 on 36 minutes when Marvin Johnson showed tremendous pace on the left to burst through and fire past Woud.

But Quakers put a good move together that ended with Mills flicking the ball on for Saunders, whose shot was blocked.

Gestede though nearly made it 5-0 with an overhead kick from 12 yards out that crashed against the bar.

Half time

Darlington 0 Middlesbrough 4

There were was a completely different Darlington side for the second half.

Mahmutovic then made a powerful run past several players, but Woud made a great stop to deny him the fifth.

At the other end, Darlington midfielder Tom Portas fired across the face of goal, and just wide of the far post.

Attendance 352

Darlington v Middlesbrough

Quakers include Michael Woud, a triallist keeper from Sunderland, in their starting line up. James Talbot has a slight knock, and Sunderland have agreed to loan Woud for this evening.

Woud, Trotman, Scott, Heaton, Collins, Brown, Mills, Turnbull, Styche, Saunders, Thompson

Subs: Portas, Bancroft, Caton, Vaulks, Syers, Gillies, Wheatley, Steels, A Trgiallist, Milburn, Marrs, Hume

Boro include nine players with first team experience

Pears, Roberts, Friend, Clayton, Brewitt, Shotton, Tavernier, Wing, Gestede, Fletcher, Johnson

Subs: Liddle, Mahmutovic, Hegarty, O’Neill, Cook, Malley, Reading, Coulson, James