Hull City 4 Darlington 1

Last updated : 09 August 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Hull City and Darlington's league campaign began at a packed out stadium bathed in glorious sun and in the baking heat, it was always going to be survival of the fittest.

But although Darlington may have stolen City's thunder by winning the last match at their old stadium in December, this was not to be their day.

The game began fairly evenly with either side having an equal share of possession. On 12 minutes Ben Burgess shot just over and on 21 minutes a mistake in the Darlington defence allowed Jason Price to capitalise and he slid in a low shot which the out of position Andy Collett had to dive to his right to push away.

Five minutes later City took the lead after Collett had initially saved Burgess' header, but none of his defenders were there to back him up and he was powerless to stop Burgess' second effort from about six yards out.

After 34 minutes Burgess slotted a great ball to Price just beating the offside trap, but Price's shot across the goal was well stopped by Collett.

Two minutes later Marc Joseph, completely unmarked, shot from about 20 yards which bent just the wrong way of the right-hand post with Collett beaten.

In a rare Darlington attack two minutes later Ashley Nicholls slid an excellent ball into Barry Conlon which totally caught City out, but Conlon scuffed his shot and Alan Fettis collected easily.

City were starting to lose shape and possibly beginning to tire in the heat and they were caught out again when Conlon equalised for Darlington with a well-taken shot from the edge of the area.

But four minutes into the second half Darlington were rocked by two goals in two minutes. Price scored his debut goal after a goalmouth scramble, before on 50 minutes Alton Thelwell also grabbed his debut goal with an excellent strike from the edge of the area.

Moments later a powerful header by Stuart Elliott was very well held by Collett, who made another excellent save on 72 minutes when he stopped Price's acute shot by leaping to his right.

Darlington briefly rallied and put little more pressure on City's defence but the Tigers were clearing with confidence and ease and Fettis was largely untroubled.

On 82 minutes, Danny Allsopp completed the rout with a superb strike from 20 yards out.