AN early start, a long journey and a tight pitch could not stop Burnley's young players from tasting victory at Darlington on Saturday.

In the new round of matches in the Second Division of the Merit League, the Clarets have been grouped with eight rivals with each team playing each other once.

The first game was at Durham University, where Darlington play their home games, and the Clarets came through the game with a 2-1 win.

"To be honest we had wanted the game either moved to midweek or with an afternoon kick off because it was a long way to go," he said.

"But the only time they could play it was on Saturday morning so we just had to put up with a 7.30am journey start.

"It was a very small pitch, it was bobbly and the conditions were not the best but it was quite a comfortable win. We scored twice in the first 20 minutes and they did not get their goal until the end.

"We played well in the first half but were not at our best after the break, but it was a good solid performance."

The goals came from in-form striker Matthew O'Neill, netting his fourth goal in three games, and Paul Barrett.

O'Neill has featured in the Clarets reserve team at times this season and he admitted that the experience has been good for him.

"It has been good because you get to play on better pitches and you are playing with and against better players," he said.

The second year scholar added: "At the reserve team level you have got to move the ball that much quicker so it is a good test."

His fellow striker Barrett is a local lad and he said: "It is great for me being at Burnley because all my mates are Burnley fans.

"Because I play up front I do look at someone like Andy Payton, who has done really well coming back to the club and proving himself after being let go as a young player."

The next test for Pashley's men is another away game on Saturday, this time against an Oldham Athletic side that they have already beaten this season.

The other teams in the league are York City, Bradford City, Shrewsbury Town, Mansfield Town, Lincoln City and Carlisle United.

Having started with two away games the Clarets will have two at home, then another two away before their final two at home again.

The bad weather meant they did not play all their games in the Football League Alliance, depriving them of the chance to finish in the top three and so get into the first division of the Merit League.

They will therefore be striving to finish as high as possible in Division Two.