Stephen Thompson and Adam Mitchell gave the Quakers a shock 2-0 lead early on.

Emanuele Giaccherini scored twice, along with goals from Danny Graham and substitute Connor Wickham to give the Black Cats the win.

Thompson had a penalty saved by Vito Mannone with the score at 2-2.

A strong Quakers side saw starts for new signings Kevin Burgess, Adam Nowakowski and Phil Turnbull.

Dick Adovcaat selected a team with plenty of experience, including former England internationals Jermain Defoe and Adam Johnson.

Darlington took the lead inside the first ten minutes when David Dowson won the ball from Lee Cattermole and laid off Thompson who struck a fantastic shot into the corner of the net from outside the box.

Thompson nearly grabbed a second minutes later when he saw a long range free-kick tipped round the post by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The lead was doubled when Darlington broke from a corner and Adam Mitchell found himself clear on goal to lob the ball over Pickford.

The Quakers had dominated the early stages, but the momentum changed when Giaccherini volleyed home from a free-kick on 24 minutes to make it 2-1.

Danny Graham wasted a good chance to level just before half-time, but he shot straight at Peter Jameson.

Both sides made a string of changes at half-time with Tom Portas, Alan White, Ian Watson and Rob Youhill all coming on for the Quakers.

Youhill's impact was immediate, as he crossed for Nathan Cartman who put the ball over from just a few yards out.

It was 2-2 minutes later, Graham's shot evading two defenders on the line to find the bottom corner.

Darlington then had a chance to regain the lead after Dowson was tripped in the box and a penalty was awarded. Unfortunately Thompson's penalty was saved low down by substitute keeper Mannone.

Wickham then gave the Black Cats the lead after he was put through on goal and he fired past Jameson.

Thompson continued to be involved and he hit the post with another long range effort.

However, it was Sunderland who would finish the scoring as Giaccherini grabbed his second of the night from the edge of the box to make the final score 4-2.

Next up for the Quakers is an away game with South Shields on Saturday, before they face professional sides York City and Gateshead in further friendlies next week.

Darlington team – Jameson, Brown, Galbraith, Burgess, Hunter, Nowakowski, Mitchell, Turnbull, Dowson, Cartman, Thompson

Sunderland team -Pickford, Jones, Van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Brown, Beadling, Giaccherini, Defoe, Graham, Cattermole, Johnson