DARLINGTON 0, UNITED 1 (Huntington 48)

Darlington: Oakes, Ryan, White, Foster, Keltie, Purdie, Joachim, Ravenhill (Cummins 79), Blundell, Wright (Green 24), Barrau (Wainwright 56). Subs: Miller, Brookes-Meade.

United: Lucas, Richardson, Heath (Clapham 46), Huntington, Parker, Weston, Howson, Thompson (Da Costa 57), Westlake, De Vries, Andrews (Ameobi 78). Subs: Martin, Bayly.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire)

Booked: Blundell (Darlington), Andrews, Thompson (United).

Att: 7,891 (2,828 Leeds)

United boss Dennis Wise made changes from the team which beat Yeovil last weekend, but former England international Alan Thompson skippered a side boasting plenty of experience.

Frazer Richardson, Matt Heath, Ian Westlake, and Mark De Vries have all enjoyed plenty of senior football this season while there were full debuts for former Newcastle centre-back Paul Huntington and goalkeeper David Lucas, who has made over 300 league appearances.

Jonny Howson, Ben Parker, and summer signing Curtis Weston also have plenty of football under their belts, while loan man Wayne Andrews was handed his second start for the club.

Swirling wind and a greasy surface didn't make for ideal conditions and the game got off to an uneventful start.

Darlington's Gregg Blundell did find his way into the referee's notebook in the 10th minute for a foul on Westlake, but there was little early action to warm the crowd.

The first real opening was created by Weston who burst through the middle. Weston found Andrews with a neat pass, but the loan striker slipped on the greasy surface when the chance beckoned.

That prompted the home side to show more life and David Lucas made a save on the 20-minute mark from former Leeds striker Julian Joachim.

United did have another opportunity on 42 minutes when Andrews, who had broke clear with little support, headed over after laying the ball back for Westlake to cross.

Darlo responded immediately and Lucas got down well to his left to make a good save to deny Blundell.

The hosts also created the first opening of the second half, but Parker, switched to centre-back following the half-time introduction of Jamie Clapham, made a superb last-ditch challenge.

But the drama was at the other end on 48 minutes when central defender Huntington, making his first start, headed home a corner to give United the lead.

The defender rose well to meet the delivery and home goalkeeper Andy Oakes had no chance.

On 57 minutes, Wise introduced another new face with Portuguese winger Filipe Da Costa coming on for skipper Thompson.

The game did liven up, and Matt Green tried his luck for Darlington with a shot straight at Lucas while Clapham tested Oakes with a skidding effort.

And moments later, Da Costa gave the travelling army a glimpse of his talent when he jinked past three defenders before firing wide of the mark.

De Vries also went close to adding a second on 68 minutes when he rattled the upright after ghosting at the far post to meet an Andrews cross.

The home side showed spirit, though, and with seven minutes remaining Green again did well, cutting in from the left before hitting the outside of the post with a vicious strike.

But De Vries again came close to doubling United's advantage when he was denied by Oakes who spread himself well after the striker met a Howson corner at the far post.

There was still time for Da Costa to fire a long-range free-kick over the top and, in stoppage time, Neil Wainwright wasted a decent chance for Darlington when he fired wide of the mark.

But it was United who gained another victory and booked a place in the area quarter-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.