Paddy Madden scores hat-trick as Fleetwood Town defeat Darlington 4-0

The Quakers' first effort of note came on 23 minutes but Will Hatfield shot straight at new Town keeper Joel Coleman.

Town continued to pressurise the National League North club, who went close to an own goal when David Atkinson's header just cleared his own crossbar.

From the resulting corner by Paul Coutts, Harvey Saunders' header was tipped away by Darlington's triallist keeper for another corner.

Coutts' delivery found the head of Saunders again, whose knock-back was tapped home by Burns from five yards.

Darlington ended the half strongly as former Blackpool winger Jarrett Rivers shot just over and Justin Donowa fired straight at Coleman as the teams changed ends at 2-0.

Fleetwood were back on the attack after the restart as Barry Baggley's low drive was saved at the near post and Callum Camps was also denied by the keeper after a strong run from halfway.

Fleetwood substitute keeper Alex Cairns had a let-off when Luke Charman's strike hit his near post, then at the other end Shayden Morris forced the Darlington keeper into a diving save from Carl Johnston's header into the box.

Town introduced three triallists, including a right-back who was fouled in the box and Madden found the bottom left corner from the penalty spot.

And Madden completed the scoring seven minutes from time, rising highest to meet a triallist's cross and head into the bottom right corner.

Town's competitive season begins on Tuesday with the EFL Trophy opener at Carlisle United.

Fleetwood: Coleman, Andrew, Baggley, Boyes, Holgate, Burns, Camps, J.Morris, Coutts, Madden, Saunders; Subs: Cairns, Triallist, Matete, Triallist, Hill, Triallist, Rydel, S.Morris, Johnston.

Darlington: Triallist (GK), Atkinson, Liddle, Hunt, Watson, Wheatley, Donowa, Hatfield, Maguire, Campbell, Rivers; subs: Hedley, Reid, Holmes, Charman, Armstong, Triallist.