PROMISING new boy Danny Mellanby was pleased to get his first game in a Darlington shirt under his belt on Saturday, despite the Quakers' going down to Southend.

The 22-year-old was given his first taste of professional football when Gary Bennett threw him into the action as a substitute on 67 minutes with the hope of snatching a deserved goal.

And the Newton Aycliffe-born attacker was understandably apprehensive about his Football League bow, but he was grateful to the guidance of the senior players such as Neil Maddison and Craig Liddle.

"I was quite nervous when they said I was coming on." said the former Bishop Auckland schemer.

"But they give you loads of advice and encouragement, they gee you up, tell you what to do, tell you when to give it and when to keep hold of it."

Having played part-time last season in the UniBond Premier League, Mellanby is delighted to be playing for the club he has supported all his life.

And what he is relishing most is the opportunity to play against arch-rivals Hartlepool in less than two weeks time.

"Getting the chance to play for Darlington after coming from Bishop Auckland is a great opportunity for me," he said.

"I used to stand in the Tin Shed.

"Hartlepool is a big one for the fans and the players. I was there for the play-offs when we won 1-0, I was sat in the East Stand."

Quakers had the lion's share of possession during Saturday's defeat to the Shrimpers, but their undoing harked back to last season when they lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Although they created a number of chances, too many times the final ball wasn't good enough. Bennett will demand better of his forwards and would do well to hold shooting practice in training this week.

"We were right on top in that game," said Mellanby. "If we'd scored first we'd have won easy because we'd have just kept the ball and let them come at us.

"I think we could have passed it a bit quicker because I think we were a bit slow at times. But it's only the first game of the season and things aren't going to fall into place straight away.

"The gaffer was saying they're supposed to be one of the favourites to go up, so if that's right, I don't think we'll have any problems."

Darlington's reserves travel to Lincoln City tomorrow where Bennett plans to give Dutch trialists Maurice Rayer at centre-back, and Mohammed Mahoote, midfield, a run-out

Read more about Darlington FC here.