FC Hartlepool secured a point from their trip to Darlington Town on the opening night of the new Ebac Northern League season.

FC Hartlepool got the stern test they were expecting on the opening night of the new Ebac Northern League season as they were forced to battle for a draw at Division Two rivals Darlington Town.

In a tight and nervy opening 45 minutes to the new campaign, neither side were able to seize the upper-hand - although it was Terry Hill’s men that enjoyed the better of the very few goalscoring opportunities that arrived during the first-half with Mikey McGee going close. It was their hosts that edged the contest after the restart with forward duo James Beauchamp and Nathan Stephenson both trying their luck without success as the deadlock remained in place when the full-time whistle was blown.

Action from FC Hartlepool's goalless draw at Northern League Division Two rivals Darlington Town (photo Adam Cook) | Adam Cook

placeholder image — Action from FC Hartlepool's goalless draw at Northern League Division Two rivals Darlington Town (photo Adam Cook) | Adam Cook

FC assistant manager Mark Loynes believes both sides will ‘fancy themselves’ to be in the mix for promotion into the Northern League’s top tier this season and insisted nobody will runaway in the title race.

He said: “You can see the way people have recruited during the summer that everybody in the division fancies themselves for a push. Darlington Town and ourselves are in that. There’s no standout team in the division, nobody is going to run away with the league. It’s going to be very tight.

“A lot of teams have recruitment so well during the summer and I obviously include ourselves in that - but we are just looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead because this is what it’s about. All of the hard work over the summer is worthwhile if you can perform during the season and that is our aim.”

Division One results: Blyth Town 6-0 Birtley Town, Carlisle City 3-1 Kendal Town, Horden CW 2-1 Crook Town, Marske United 1-1 Whickham, Newcastle Blue Star 2-3 Redcar Town, Newton Aycliffe 1-1 North Shields, Penrith 0-1 Easington Colliery, Thornaby 0-2 Bishop Auckland, Whitley Bay 2-2 Northallerton Town, Yarm and Eaglescliffe 2-1 Newcastle Benfield

Division Two results: Friday - Darlington Town 0-0 FC Hartlepool Saturday: Billingham Synthonia 5-0 Prudhoe YC, Boldon CA 2-1 Grangetown Boys Club, Chester-le-Street Town 2-2 Jarrow, Durham United 0-3 Sunderland RCA, Newcastle University 1-0 Stokesley SC, Ryton and Crawcrook Albion 1-2 Tow Law Town, Seaham Red Star 1-2 Billingham Town, Seaton Carew 0-3 AFC Newbiggin

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