DARLINGTON 0, UNITED 1 (Beckford 68)

Darlington: Oakes, Austin, Ryan, White, Foster, Joachim, Ravenhill, McBride, Wright, Blundell, Nelthorpe. Subs: Miller, Wainwright, Cummins, Purdie, Stockdale, Collins, Burgess, Reay, Harty, McMaster.

United: Loach, Gardner, Marques, Heath, Parker, Weston, Thompson (Delph 80), Howson, Carole (Bayly 84), Beckford, Kandol. Subs: Elliott, Hamman, Madden.

Att: 3,270 (1467 Leeds)

Once again, United were backed by a healthy following for the annual trip to Darlington as Dennis Wise's men continued their preparations for the new campaign.

 Alan Thompson skippered the side again and the experienced midfielder almost created an opening goal for United after just eight minutes.

Tresor Kandol beat Darlington goalkeeper Andy Oakes to a Thompson free-kick and the striker was only denied by a spectacular goal-line clearance by Tim Ryan.

Thompson went close again on 15 minutes when he curled a free-kick inches wide of the mark.

At the other end, Matt Heath reacted well to make a timely challenge on Tommy Wright when the goalbound striker latched onto a long ball over the top. Goalkeeper Scott Loach also came off his line quickly to avert the danger when he cleared an under-hit back-pass.

Loach was again called into action when Wright found space, following another defence-splitting pass, but the keeper smothered the finish. Wright was proving a handful, and from the resultant corner Loach got down well to his left to push a powerful header around the post.

The final opportunity of the first half came when Jermaine Beckford dragged the home keeper out of his box and delivered a high cross back in for Kandol, but Ryan was again on the line to clear.

United started the second half brightly and Jonny Howson put a shot over the top after some good build-up play.

Howson also became the third United player to beat the keeper with a shot, but found his way blocked by a Darlington defender.

The lively Beckford did find a way through, though, and he put United ahead on 68 minutes. Howson broke from the midfield before playing a delighful into Beckford who coolly finished past the advancing Oakes.

Darlington had a good chance to get back on level terms within two minutes, but former United striker Julian Joachim fired wide of the mark after a good pull-back from the right.

United came back immediately and Oakes made a good save to deny Kandol, who turned well to deliver a powerful effort.

As the game edged towards full-time, Darlington made a number of substitutions and Dennis Wise introduced both Fabian Delph and Rob Bayly for United. 

There was still time for Oakes to make one more excellent save, though, when he tipped a Beckford effort over the bar after the striker tried his luck with a first-time effort from distance.